National Register of Historic Places

Florida Keys Memorial

Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida
Listed
March 16, 1995
Type
Object
Period
Listed
Ref No.
95000238

About this property

The 1935 Labor Day hurricane was an extremely powerful and devastating Atlantic hurricane that struck the southeastern United States in early September 1935. For several decades, it was the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of barometric pressure, 1-minute sustained winds, and the strongest at landfall by 1-minute sustained winds. The fourth tropical cyclone, third tropical storm, second hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1935 Atlantic hurricane season, it is the first of four Category 5 hurricanes on record to strike the contiguous United States, along with Hurricane Camille (1969), Hurricane Andrew (1992), and Hurricane Michael (2018). The hurricane intensified rapidly during its time, passing near Long Key on Labor Day evening, September 2. The region was swept by a massive storm surge as the eye passed over the area. The waters quickly receded after carving new channels connecting the bay with the ocean; however, gale-force winds and rough seas persisted into Tuesday, disrupting rescue efforts. The storm continued northwestward along the Florida west coast, weakening before making its second landfall near Cedar Key, Florida, on September 4. The hurricane caused catastrophic damage in the upper Florida Keys, as a storm surge of approximately 18 to 20 feet (5.5 to 6.1 m) swept over the low-lying islands. The hurricane's strong winds and the surge destroyed nearly all the structures between Tavernier and Marathon. The town of Islamorada was obliterated. Portions of the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway were severely damaged or destroyed. In addition, many veterans died in work camps created for the construction of the Overseas Highway, in part due to poor working conditions. The hurricane also caused more damage in northwest Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

Location

Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida
24.91706, -80.63615

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTART
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Matecumbe Methodist Church
Industrial
0 mi
Matecumbe Methodist Church Cemetery
Listed
0.2 mi
Herrara Shipwreck Site
Listed
2.9 mi
Chaves Shipwreck Site
Listed
3.6 mi
Tres Puentes Shipwreck Site
Listed
3.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Florida Keys Memorial listed on the National Register?

Florida Keys Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1995.

What type of historic resource is Florida Keys Memorial?

Florida Keys Memorial is classified as a object in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Florida Keys Memorial?

The period of significance for Florida Keys Memorial is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Florida Keys Memorial?

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