Dry Tortugas
A 19th-century brick fortress the size of a city block, built on a remote coral island 70 miles from Key West. It was never finished. It never fired a shot in anger.
Fort Jefferson sits on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas, 70 miles west of Key West — accessible only by seaplane or ferry. Construction began in 1846 and continued for 30 years without ever being completed. The fort covers nearly the entire island, with walls 50 feet high and 8 feet thick enclosing 16 acres. It was designed to hold 1,500 guns and a garrison of 1,500 men. It never reached full capacity and never fired its guns in combat.
Dr. Samuel Mudd — convicted of conspiracy in the Lincoln assassination for setting John Wilkes Booth's broken leg — was imprisoned here from 1865 to 1869. He earned a pardon by treating yellow fever patients during an outbreak that killed the fort's surgeon.
The surrounding waters are among the clearest in Florida, with visibility exceeding 100 feet in places. The snorkeling directly off the beach is exceptional — coral formations, sea turtles, and tropical fish within swimming distance of the dock. The ferry from Key West takes about two hours each way. Camping is available on the island; the night sky, 70 miles from the nearest city lights, is extraordinary.
Ferry departs from Key West Historic Seaport; seaplane service also available. Day trips and overnight camping both require advance booking — the ferry fills up weeks ahead in season. Bring everything you need: there is no fresh water, no food service, and no shade beyond the fort walls. The snorkeling gear rental on the ferry is worth it.