Indian Key, one mile offshore on the ocean side of US 1 at Mile Marker 78.5, is only accessible by boat; which can be rented in Islamorada. - AsNotedIn
| Name of Notable | Genus | AsNotedIn | No | Address | Proximity | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Genus | AsNotedIn | Address | Proximity | Area | |
| SAN PEDRO (shipwreck) |
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Hawk Channel, 18 ft of water, 1.25 nm S of Indian Keys |
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
| 1831/00/00 | Jacob Housman buys Indian Key and establishes a shipwreck recovery business. Building warehouses, wharves, a hotel, store and houses, providing for 40 to 50 residences. | |||||
| 1836/00/00 | Florida Legislative Council establishes Dade County, with Indian Key as the county seat. | |||||
| 1840/08/07 | Seminole Indians attack and burn Indian Key during Second Seminole War. | Second Seminole War |
| Particulars for Indian Key: | |
|---|---|
| Criteria | Architecture-Engineering |
| Area of Significance | Commerce |
| Cultural Affiliation | Early American |
| Criteria | Exemplar |
| Area of Significance | Historic and non-aboriginal |
| Criteria | Information Potential |
| Physiographic feature | Island |
| Level of Significance | National |
| Area of Significance | Science |
| Historic Use | Single dwelling |
| Sight Category | Site |
| Owner | State |
| Historic Use | Water-related |
The history of Indian Key spans from thousands of years before the arrival of the Spanish in Florida, when the key was the home to prehistoric Indians, to the 1830s when Indian Key was the seat of Dade County. Wrecking, the salvage of vessels wrecked on offshore reefs, has been an important industry in the keys since the late 1700s. Under the direction of Jacob Housman, who bought the island in 1831, Indian Key challenged Key West as a wrecking center. Housman built a store, hotel, residences, warehouses and wharves as he turned Indian Key into a busy port. In 1836 he had the Legislative Council establish Dade County with Indian Key as the county seat. This prosperous community came to a violent end on August 7, 1840, when the town was attacked and burned by Seminole Indians during the Second Seminole War. The remains of stone foundations and cisterns can be seen today on walking trails. - NPS
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