The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise

Journey through the history of the Keys and meet the people who live that history every day. Celebrate the uniquely colorful and often dramatic history of our nation’s southernmost subtropical isles. Beginning with the planting of the U.S. flag on Key West in March 1822, the documentary uncovers two centuries of booms and busts, shipwrecks and pirates, engineering feats, natural disasters, artistic and literary achievement, sport fishing, ecological conservation, and restoration and renewal.

The film also explores the often overlooked history of Black contribution to the development of the Keys and the legacy of pioneers such as Sandy Cornish – a former slave who built Key West’s most successful farm in the 19th century and became a prominent civic leader. The hour-long program takes viewers on a historic journey to one of the most fascinating and exotic places in the country, discovering the people and events that make the Conch Republic unforgettably offbeat.

An original South Florida PBS production.

#floridakeys #floridakeyshistory #floridakeysdocumentary

[MoniqueE.Rivera]

Key West. My ancestral hometown since 1870. My maternal grandfather, José L. Rodríguez (1898-1986), was Hemingway's captain for the Pilar during his Key West years. (My grandfather is the man pictured on the far right at minute 35:23). Thank you for this program! <3

[robertwilkins]

I moved there Oct. 6 1976 and I got to see Paradise before new people came in the 90s and it changed sad what has been done to Paradise for ever. I got old there. I am no longer there . All those nice families I met, was the best of my life, . I am 82 now . I photographed before the fools changed it. My memories are priceless.

[SearchIndex]

I’ll always love orange blossom perfume from the keys ❤

[mikecallahan]

i moved to Marathon in 1975 and became a comm fisherman, it was a great place to live and explore. but now in 2023 its sad. it is now been overrun by big business high rents. its so bad that most of the work force is bussed down from the mainland. Paradise has been lost in lieu of the all mighty dollar. After hurricane Irma it just got worse. RIP florida keys

[hannahpumpkins]

I lived in Marathon for a long time - it's an amazing, beautiful, fun and laid-back little drinking community with a serious fishing problem.

[jimmccandless]

Florida Keys! I am 72 now and my Dad bought a motel there in the 1950'a (Grassy Key)! I recall the coconut palms the key limes, and the sight of todays catch rolled up in newspaper !!. Back in those days I recall the swarms of lobster 🦞 darkening the shore line. Everone was so excited ! Conch where everywhere i saw conch thrown up on the shore in heaps ! Smell was awefull. The greed of a few decimated the conch population ! Shameful!
Well so many horseshoe crabs seemed to be everywhere. Awesome creatures there where no shortage of.
Daytime was the most excellent, as when the sun started to set the mosquitoes where so bad you couldn't see the docks in front of our home ! After late night you could hear the mosquito abatement trucks flooding the skys with pesticide to eradicate the mosquitoes .. Sounded like aircraft crash landing, scared my mother to dearh..
Well our uncle John Hlebo who served on the USS BANG submarine seevice during WwII joined us. WHAT a life, free America wss in those days ! All our Family friends and neighbors where living in Paradise !
Hopefully You and others will have a chance to enjoy GODS Blessings !

[KeysTreasures]

Maybe the best video story of 200 years of Florida Keys History.

[caryleepierce]

My late wife moved to Key west with her best friend in 1970 She loved the keys. Sadly became so expensive she couldn’t stay, which worked out otherwise I would not have ever met her years later. RIP Babe

[sammythompson]

Key West was a grand place in the 70's went back in 87 was still nice. Then I took a road trip recently and was disappointed. The once beautiful town has turned into Little San Francisco.

[RVWeekendsRC]

Being born in Florida back in 1965, I've been going to the Keys since I can't remember. Old photos of my mom holding me at Bahia Honda, my dad holding his spear guns at the edge of the water. All my 6 siblings still visit the Keys every year to enjoy the water as well as catching our own lobsters. So many fantastic memories over the years as a teenager, till now as a late 50's young man. The Keys are always a paradise and a short drive from central Florida. I love "The Florida Keys"!

[robroooal]

Driven the highway and spent a week in key west. One of best times of my life.

[jklynb]

Best Key Lime pie I’ve ever had was homemade in Key West ! I’ll never forget it. Yummy 😋

[tingleypresentations]

As a 6th generation Conch, all I can say is BRAVO PBS!!! This is an absolutely brilliant presentation of my island home. It was such a joy to see so many friends onscreen, too!

[Duschbag]

My wife and I visited Islamorada for the first time in the Mid-80's and fished out of Bud-N-Mary's many times for Bonefish and Tarpon. We we're instantly hooked and fell in love with the Keys. There is only one Keys and I am proud to say I have supported Captains 4 Clean Water a few times. When I learned of what those Guides were working for, I knew I had to donate a few times. I have life long memories of the Keys and my late wife. 💔

[karenokeane]

This was an engaging and beautifully edited narrative. Thank you.

[christinemckinney]

Who could forget the year of cessesion from the Union and the formation of the Conch Republic. Fun times!

[bobo-tvcv]

I shouldn't be surprised at how amazing this Documentary is since being a lifer of PBS programming but I gotta say, Wow. I've lived in the Keys for 35 years and never got this much comprehensive data in one place that was so well composed and enjoyable to watch. Thank you.

[americanazheck]

I left key west in the early 80's and returned from time to time. I then lived in Homestead during 2015 and would always be somewhere in the keys. Key west has changed so much that it's not worth going to in my opinion. Too many souvenir shops and tourists. The green parrot, Captain Tony's and sloppy joes bar expanded, ruining the quaintness of the establishments. I remember in the early eighties seeing and speaking with Capt Tony at his bar. He was a character. The upper keys are bumper to bumper traffic and people from Miami have trashed and overfished every fish possible. I'm glad I was able to enjoy the old key west when I was a younger man

[dezaricor]

Outstanding presentation of the Florida Keys!

[bethbartlett]

I must visit Key West, and Cuba. I've been all over Florida and around the Caribbean. I love Cuban People and Music, and I've been waiting a long time, all my life we couldn't go to Cuba.

I will so enjoy the People (Cuba and Key West), and the Feeling of being there.

(Hemingway had to be a really fun fishing friend.)

Yep, it a plan/intention ✨

Chicago, USA