The Flickr Floridastraits Image Generatr

While taking in views at the Simonton St Beach View (Google Maps reference) with a view looking to the southeast across the shoreline to nearby waves coming in and then more distant waters of the Florida Strait. This is located in Key West, Florida. In composing this image, I wanted to get down low near the shoreline and angle my Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera slightly downward, raising the horizon higher into the image. I did this because I wanted to show more of the waves coming in as well as minimize what I felt was more of a negative space with the overcast skies. The rest was centering the ship along the horizon and working an exposure, so that I could bring out more colors for final processing.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Sunset Key is a 27-acre (11-hectare) residential neighborhood and resort island in the city of Key West, Florida. It is located about 500 yards (460 m) off the coast of the island of Key West. The island is privately held among its residents. The island is accessible only by a shuttle boat that runs from the Margaritaville Marina out to the island. As of 2006, the island consisted of a total of 48 single-family homes and 21 vacant lots.

Its closest neighbor is Wisteria Island, about 200 yards (180 m) north.

Sunset Key's official name is Tank Island. The United States Navy constructed Tank Island to serve as a fuel tank depot during the Cold War. Dredging began in 1965 to form the island as well as to build passageways for submarines and other large vessels. However, the Navy's plans changed, and the island saw little military action. Only two of the twelve planned fuel tanks were constructed, and although the fuel lines were run, the tanks were never filled.

In 1986, the government sold Tank Island and other anchorages in Key West in an auction to developer Pritam Singh. In 1988, the tanks were dismantled while the remaining fuel lines served as conduits for water, sewage, and utilities. Power cables were later laid alongside the existing fuel pipes.

In 1994, the island was sold and renamed Sunset Key. The island is now owned by Tom Walsh, who also owns the Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Key
www.opalcollection.com/sunset-key-cottages/

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

This current lighthouse opened in 1848 with a woman as its Keeper; nearly unheard of during the 19th century. In the years following, the Key West Lighthouse underwent a number of upgrades including the installation of a Third Order Fresnel Lens, an extension to the tower which allowed the light to be seen from a greater distance, the addition of Keeper’s Quarters, and finally the electrification of the light.

In 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse since there was no longer a need for a full-time Keeper due to technological advancements. Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and weather.

Today, visitors can walk up the 88 steps to the top of the light as well as explore the belongings, photographs, and words of the lighthouse Keepers and their families who lived a now obsolete, yet never forgotten, way of life.

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
www.kwahs.org/visit/lighthouse-keepers-quarters/#sthash.g...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

In 1833, the federal government purchased land near Key West harbor and erected a small wooden structure to house its customs operations. So lucrative were the customs operations that by 1882 the annual revenue generated in Key West alone was greater than the amount of revenue received from all other Florida ports combined.

New Custom House Opens in 1891
Recognizing the importance of Key West’s growing economy, the U.S. Treasury authorized the construction of a larger building in 1885 to accommodate its customs operations. Despite difficulties and delays in construction, the Custom House opened in April 1891. The new building housed Key West’s Customs Offices, District Court, and Post Office. During its heyday, the Custom House heard thousands of cases and judgments ranging from rum runners to ship salvaging claims. The most significant proceedings dealt with the 1898 sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, which lead to the Spanish-American War.

U.S. Navy Offices, 1930s-1970s
In the 1930s, the Customs Offices, the District Court, and the Post Office all moved into new facilities. The Navy moved some of its personnel into the building, converting it into a utilitarian office space. Despite the fact that in 1973 the Custom House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Navy decided to abandon the building. With all of its former tenants relocated, the Custom House was sealed, fenced off and left to feral cats, transients, and general decay.

KWAHS Acquisition & Restoration
Throughout the 1980s, the Custom House’s future remained in doubt. Various plans were drafted which saw the historic building being converted into a yacht club and at one point even to an upscale resort. Ultimately, after being sold in 1991 to the Florida Land Acquisition Advisory Council, the Key West Art & Historical Society undertook the restoration of the dilapidated building. In 1993, historic renovations began on the building under the supervision of lead architect Bert Bender. What had originally cost less than $110,000 to build in four years cost nearly $9 million to renovate over nine years. Restoration of the building followed historical preservation guidelines and used original construction materials. The building required modernization in order to accommodate a public museum and offices. This necessitated the installation of additional stairwells, an elevator, climate-control, archival rooms, offices and facilities to accommodate over 300,000 visitors a year. With restorations completed in 1999, the Key West Art & Historical Society reopened the Custom House as the Key West Museum of Art & History. It stands as the architectural crown jewel on the island.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.kwahs.org/key-west-museum-of-art-history-at-the-custo...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Post_Office_and_Customshouse_(Key_West,_Florida)

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

This current lighthouse opened in 1848 with a woman as its Keeper; nearly unheard of during the 19th century. In the years following, the Key West Lighthouse underwent a number of upgrades including the installation of a Third Order Fresnel Lens, an extension to the tower which allowed the light to be seen from a greater distance, the addition of Keeper’s Quarters, and finally the electrification of the light.

In 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse since there was no longer a need for a full-time Keeper due to technological advancements. Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and weather.

Today, visitors can walk up the 88 steps to the top of the light as well as explore the belongings, photographs, and words of the lighthouse Keepers and their families who lived a now obsolete, yet never forgotten, way of life.

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
www.kwahs.org/visit/lighthouse-keepers-quarters/#sthash.g...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

You don't have to be religious to appreciate the sheer beauty of the historic church located at the corner of Duval and Eaton streets in Old Town Key West.

Founded in 1832, this is the oldest continuously operating church in the city and has played an important role in its development. During the Civil War, the building served as a hospital for Union troops and later was also used as a courthouse and a school. Famously destroyed several times by weather calamities, the temple had the first chime of bells in Florida inaugurated in 1891. The current, fourth building on the site was designed by architect William Kerr and completed in 1919.

It features the Gothic Revival style, quite popular at the turn of the 20th century, complete with its typical elements such as pointed arches, buttresses, and a steeply pitched roof. The main entrance is located on the south side of the church and is marked by a Gothic arched doorway with intricately carved stone surrounds. The church's bell tower, which rises above the entrance, is one of the most recognizable features of the building.

Inside, the church has a spacious nave with a high, vaulted ceiling and rows of wooden pews. The stained-glass windows, which were created by Tiffany Studios and others, are particularly noteworthy, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ and other biblical figures. The church also features a large pipe organ, which was installed in the 1920s and has been restored several times over the years.

Several notable personalities have been associated with this church, including author Ernest Hemingway, who attended services here with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. Today, Saint Paul's Episcopal Church continues to be an active congregation and hosts a number of outreach programs, including a food pantry and a homeless ministry. It is also a popular venue for concerts and other cultural events.

There is no charge to get in and view the stunning stained-glass windows and beautiful wooden beams on the ceiling or catch one of the marvelous impromptu concerts held during the season on alternate Sunday afternoons. A pamphlet inside relays more about the windows as well as the church's long history.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/st-pauls-episcopal-church-2...
stpaulskeywest.org/about-us/our-history/
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=84328

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air, about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

You don't have to be religious to appreciate the sheer beauty of the historic church located at the corner of Duval and Eaton streets in Old Town Key West.

Founded in 1832, this is the oldest continuously operating church in the city and has played an important role in its development. During the Civil War, the building served as a hospital for Union troops and later was also used as a courthouse and a school. Famously destroyed several times by weather calamities, the temple had the first chime of bells in Florida inaugurated in 1891. The current, fourth building on the site was designed by architect William Kerr and completed in 1919.

It features the Gothic Revival style, quite popular at the turn of the 20th century, complete with its typical elements such as pointed arches, buttresses, and a steeply pitched roof. The main entrance is located on the south side of the church and is marked by a Gothic arched doorway with intricately carved stone surrounds. The church's bell tower, which rises above the entrance, is one of the most recognizable features of the building.

Inside, the church has a spacious nave with a high, vaulted ceiling and rows of wooden pews. The stained-glass windows, which were created by Tiffany Studios and others, are particularly noteworthy, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ and other biblical figures. The church also features a large pipe organ, which was installed in the 1920s and has been restored several times over the years.

Several notable personalities have been associated with this church, including author Ernest Hemingway, who attended services here with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. Today, Saint Paul's Episcopal Church continues to be an active congregation and hosts a number of outreach programs, including a food pantry and a homeless ministry. It is also a popular venue for concerts and other cultural events.

There is no charge to get in and view the stunning stained-glass windows and beautiful wooden beams on the ceiling or catch one of the marvelous impromptu concerts held during the season on alternate Sunday afternoons. A pamphlet inside relays more about the windows as well as the church's long history.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/st-pauls-episcopal-church-2...
stpaulskeywest.org/about-us/our-history/
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=84328

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

You don't have to be religious to appreciate the sheer beauty of the historic church located at the corner of Duval and Eaton streets in Old Town Key West.

Founded in 1832, this is the oldest continuously operating church in the city and has played an important role in its development. During the Civil War, the building served as a hospital for Union troops and later was also used as a courthouse and a school. Famously destroyed several times by weather calamities, the temple had the first chime of bells in Florida inaugurated in 1891. The current, fourth building on the site was designed by architect William Kerr and completed in 1919.

It features the Gothic Revival style, quite popular at the turn of the 20th century, complete with its typical elements such as pointed arches, buttresses, and a steeply pitched roof. The main entrance is located on the south side of the church and is marked by a Gothic arched doorway with intricately carved stone surrounds. The church's bell tower, which rises above the entrance, is one of the most recognizable features of the building.

Inside, the church has a spacious nave with a high, vaulted ceiling and rows of wooden pews. The stained-glass windows, which were created by Tiffany Studios and others, are particularly noteworthy, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ and other biblical figures. The church also features a large pipe organ, which was installed in the 1920s and has been restored several times over the years.

Several notable personalities have been associated with this church, including author Ernest Hemingway, who attended services here with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. Today, Saint Paul's Episcopal Church continues to be an active congregation and hosts a number of outreach programs, including a food pantry and a homeless ministry. It is also a popular venue for concerts and other cultural events.

There is no charge to get in and view the stunning stained-glass windows and beautiful wooden beams on the ceiling or catch one of the marvelous impromptu concerts held during the season on alternate Sunday afternoons. A pamphlet inside relays more about the windows as well as the church's long history.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/st-pauls-episcopal-church-2...
stpaulskeywest.org/about-us/our-history/
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=84328

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Key West is an island city in Florida and the county seat of Monroe County. The city boundaries include the island of Key West and several nearby islands, as well as the section of Stock Island north of U.S. Route 1, on the adjacent key just east of the city. Sigsbee Park—originally known as Dredgers Key—and Fleming Key, both located to the north, and Sunset Key located to the west are all included in the city boundaries. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible to the general public.

Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A, the East Coast Greenway and, before 1935, the Florida East Coast Railway.

Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest of Miami by air,about 160 miles (260 km) by car, and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Cuba, at its closest point, is 94 miles (151 km) south. Key West is a port of call for many passenger cruise ships. The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the tropical weather, which is also the reason Key West was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The central business district is located along Duval Street and includes much of the northwestern corner of the island. The official city motto is "One Human Family."

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

La Concha, Key West's premier hotel and spa are one of the Historic Hotels of America’s earliest members, as its induction dates back to 1991. This spectacular Key West historic hotel also debuted nearly a century ago as the island’s first upscale holiday destination. During the 1920s, Key West was rapidly transforming into a prominent resort community thanks to the efforts of renowned railroad magnate and hotelier Henry B. Flagler. The island had spent years serving as a bustling commercial seaport until Flagler recognized that its inherent beauty would make for a desirable tourist attraction. He subsequently went to work connecting Key West to his own statewide railroad network—the historic Florida East Coast Railway. Hundreds of vacationers soon flooded into Key West, as well as countless real estate developers eager to make a profit. Among the many aspiring businessmen to travel to the area at the time was Carl Aubuchon, who immediately recognized the opportunity to open a grand luxury hotel in the heart of Key West. Forming a partnership with Jefferson B. Browne’s Florida Keys Realty Company, Aubuchon began constructing a beautiful six-story structure that brilliantly reflected the area’s rich Colonial Spanish heritage. The project itself proved to be a massive undertaking, costing Aubuchon and his team nearly a million dollars to complete. The money had nonetheless been put to good use, resulting in the creation of such outstanding details as marble floors, private baths, and a fully functional electric elevator. The new hotel even featured steel beams; a then-cutting-edge technology that helped make the building nearly fireproof.

Aubuchon finally opened his magnificent business as the “La Conca Hotel” at the beginning of 1926. The hotel quickly became one of the most popular attractions in downtown Key West, with its 100 original guestrooms attracting many visitors with their lavish amenities and sweeping ocean views. The rooms themselves went for three dollars a night, although guests could get a steak dinner if they spent an extra 30 cents. But the hotel’s prosperity was not destined to last, as the onset of the Great Depression significantly reduced demand for its accommodations. Then, in 1935, a devastating hurricane swept through Key West, which further depressed the local tourism industry. Fortunately, both La Concha Hotel and the island as a whole recovered swiftly in the years following World War II, arising once more as a cherished vacation hotspot. Many of America’s most illustrious personalities even returned to the island in great numbers, including author Ernest Hemingway and U.S. President Harry S. Truman. While the two men had their own homes on Key West, they nonetheless visited La Concha Hotel for cocktails. Tennessee Williams also visited the hotel around the same time, staying for long trips inside one of its guestrooms. Indeed, Williams lived at the hotel in 1946, using its tranquil atmosphere to help him write his masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire. Now known as “La Concha Hotel & Spa,” this historic tropical retreat continues to be among the best places to stay in Key West today.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/eywaw-la-concha-key-west/ov...
www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/la-concha-hotel-...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Concha_Hotel_%26_Spa

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.