View CartFLORIDA KEYS LIGHTHOUSES, DOLPHINS AND THE CHRIST OF THE ABYSS STATUE
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It's hard to beat the collection of spectacular scenes you can find yourself immersed in while taking a drive through our 100+ miles of Island Life.
Key Largo is the gateway to the Keys while Key West is the Southernmost Point in the continental United States. In between there is a never ending kaleidoscope of color, both in nature and in the people of the Florida Keys. If you were born here you are a true "Conch" (tough and colorful) otherwise you'll never be. Just ask one, they'll tell you.... But you can enjoy the Keys just the same.
""Alligator Reef Lighthouse" The name honors the U.S. Navy schooner Alligator, part of the U. S. Navy Anti-Piracy Squadron that had recently been established in Key West, which went aground at this location in 1822. The Alligator was blown up after removing as much as possible from it to prevent it from being used by pirates. Countless vessels have also sunk here on the reef's jagged coral. This lighthouse cost $185,000 to build at that time. To support the tower, a 2,000 lb (900 kg) hammer was used to drive the 12" (300 mm) iron pilings ten feet (3 m) into the coral.
"Carysfort Reef Lighthouse"The original Carysfort Reef light was a lightship, starting in 1825. While being sailed to its station, it went aground near Key Biscayne during a storm, and its crew abandoned the ship. The ship was salvaged by wreckers and taken to Key West, Florida. The owners bought the ship back and it was placed on station at Carysfort Reef. The lightship was often blown off-station by storms, and even went aground on the reef at one point. That first lightship had to be replaced after only five years because of dry rot. The second lightship was named Florida.
The loss of the Cape Florida Lighthouse left the Carysfort Reef lightship as the only navigational light on the Florida coast between St. Augustine and Key West. Congress appropriated funds for a lighthouse at Carysfort Reef in the 1840s. It was the third screw-pile lighthouse in the United States. The structure originally had a balcony that encircled the enclosed, circular light keeper's quarters. The balcony and its railing were later removed.
"Bottlenose Dolphin Sunset" shows Dolphins on a chart of the entire Florida Keys.
"Key Largo Dolphins" The original drawing of this image was done in 1999. It wasn't photographed or copied at the time. It made it's way to England for several years and then back to the Florida Keys. The picture's owner was kind enough to bring it back to me so that I could copy it. Now I can share it with you. Thanks, Peter.
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