Yesterday's Florida Keys

Nowhere on this planet has nature duplicated a geographical phenomenon comparable to the Florida Keys, those palm fringed islands nestled behind coral reefs, bathed in tropical sunshine. This comprehensive look at the formative decades of the Keys is one of the finest collections of vintage Florida Keys photographs ever assembled. The book contains images sourced from the Monroe County Library, the Miami Dade Public Library, the Florida State University Strozier Library, the Library of Congress, the Historical Association of Southern Florida, the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Florida Division of Archives. The history of the Keys and the lives of those who settled them were molded by a nature that has been both harsh and gentle. Farming has come and gone, the excitement and wealth provided by the wreck salvagers is but a dim memory. The Railroad That Went to Sea was swept away by the elements. But the Florida Keys remain a fascinating archipelago that has shown amazing growth in recent decades. With historical footnotes and extended captions for its 200 photos, the book provides a glorious story of perseverance and beauty, of tragedy and glory.