Pigeon Key Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Pigeon Key Historic District

Pigeon Key, Monroe County, Florida
Listed
March 16, 1990
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
90000443

About this property

The Pigeon Key Historic District is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on March 16, 1990) located on Pigeon Key in Florida. The district is off U.S. 1 at mile marker 45. It contains 11 historic buildings and 3 structures. Although the old Seven Mile Bridge crosses over the island, at approximately mile marker 45, west of Knight's Key, (city of Marathon in the middle Florida Keys) and just east of Moser Channel, which is the deepest section of the seven-mile span, it and its exit ramp to the island were closed in 2008 and not reopened until 2022. While the bridge was closed, access was by ferry or private watercraft only, but in 2014 FDOT approved a $77 million plan to restore it. The old bridge was restored and reopened in 2022. The island is named "Cayo Paloma" on many old Spanish charts. The island is said to be named for large flocks of white-crowned pigeons (Columba leucocephala Linnaeus) which once roosted there. During the building of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad Key West Extension, a major construction depot was located there, the jumping off point for construction of the Seven Mile Bridge. A number of buildings from the Flagler era remain on the island. They are now part of the Pigeon Key Historic District. A rare three-way bridge, now partially abandoned, is located there.

Location

Pigeon Key, Monroe County, Florida
24.70419, -81.15501

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
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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This page lists Pigeon Key Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Adderley, George, House
Industrial
5.1 mi
Sombrero Key Light
Industrial
5.9 mi
Overseas Highway and Railway Bridges (Boundary Increase)
Industrial
10.8 mi
Sueco de Arizon Shipwreck Site
Listed
17.5 mi
Angustias Shipwreck Site
Listed
19.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pigeon Key Historic District listed on the National Register?

Pigeon Key Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Pigeon Key Historic District?

Pigeon Key Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Pigeon Key Historic District?

The period of significance for Pigeon Key Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Pigeon Key Historic District?

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