Today in History: Florida Keys

Railroad construction work over the Keys
Today in History–January 22–the Library of Congress features the Florida Keys. On this day in 1912, the Florida East Coast Railway connected the island of Key West with the Florida mainland. After a 1935 hurricane damaged the line, the Overseas Highway built on the foundation of the old railroad bed. The current system of dozens of bridges connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland is one of the longest over-water roads in the world. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to learn more about the Florida Keys and the state of Florida.

Railway to the Keys from America’s Library

Florida Keys image set

Florida Keys maps

Florida Keys historical newspaper articles

Contemporary U.S. legislation related to the Florida Keys

Oral histories related to Key West

Florida state primary source collections