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795:, Florida's ports were blockaded by the Union and blockade runners delivered supplies needed by the Confederacy in exchange for Florida products. Although there were some vessel casualties on both sides, the major naval battles took place in states north of Florida. One unfortunate casualty in Florida waters was the Union transport ship
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built in 1827 on Sand Key, near Key West, both collapsed in an 1846 hurricane, killing a total of twenty people who had sought refuge in the two towers. Other
Florida lighthouses had to be abandoned or moved when the sand around their foundations washed away. Information about historic lighthouses in
927:
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the U.S. Coast Guard had to deal with thousands of Cubans trying to make it to the shores of
Florida. More than 2,700 were stopped in 2005. Often crossing the strait in home-made rafts and boats, it is unknown how many have lost their lives in the attempt.
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mapped the landscape, land grants were given out, the first road was built and a packet system of shipping by rivers and along the coasts was introduced. This economic prosperity and maritime trade continued after
Britain ceded Florida to Spain, with exports to neighboring Gulf Coast and Eastern
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932:, emigration is illegal, and any Cuban attempting to reach the U.S. found at sea will be deported. Under a 1995 migration accord between the two nations, Cubans who make it to the shores of Florida or other states are generally allowed to remain.
293:. St. Augustine, which had aids-to-navigation (wooden watchtowers which may have been lit at night) established as early as the 1580s, and saw ships come and go on an annual basis through the present day, is considered the nation's oldest port.
887:
During the late 19th century, the federal government and local port authorities made improvements to channels and harbors and charted and mapped
Florida's waters. These improvements, along with technological advances in navigation and
916:. These same reefs are hazards to navigation. Thousands of ships have wrecked over the centuries in the Keys and elsewhere in the waters of Florida. The most famous Spanish wreck found west of the Florida Keys was the above-mentioned
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has played a prominent role in
Florida's maritime history. In the 1820s, the U.S. Navy was called upon to protect ships off Florida's coasts from pirates that plagued merchant ships in the Caribbean. One of the patrol ships was
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during the 20th century, helped propel
Florida's ports to global prominence in trade and commerce and the cruise industry and marine recreation. Florida may well hold the record for the number of pleasure boats used by sport
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in 1513. Ponce de LeĂłn named the land "La
Florida" and attempted to circumnavigate what he thought was an island, sailing south to the Keys, naming a cluster of islands "Las Tortugas" and sailing north to present-day
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began providing regular passenger and freight service on inland waterways like the St. Johns River and ocean service to international destinations. Tourism flourished with steamboat tours and
524:(1756 through 1763). That same year, the British built a fort overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay. Almost the entire population of St. Augustine moved to Cuba at the end of the war.
85:
Humans have inhabited
Florida for at least twelve thousand years, and perhaps more. The earliest inhabitants would not recognize their home today, because the sea level is twenty to fifty
545:. Around 1797, Spain built two forts at Pensacola Bay in the vicinity of the earlier British fort. Little physical evidence of these forts remains but what does remain is preserved at
713:, Tampa and other Florida ports became staging areas for tens of thousands of U.S. troops and supplies headed to Cuba. With the advent of manned controlled flight and the building of
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Florida's first coastal navigational aid was a 1586 Spanish watchtower at St. Augustine, but the first true lighthouse was a seventy three-foot harbor light built there in 1824.
78:, shoals, water depth, currents, locations of rivers and inlets and the weather, have affected where people lived and where vessels wrecked. Florida has some of the best natural
398:. In 1622, eight ships were lost in a hurricane as they entered the Florida straits. During the 20th century, the remains of a number of lost ships have been found, including
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in 1821. Coastal trade with other markets continued to expand and towns like
Jacksonville, Pensacola and Tampa became important ports. After becoming a U.S. territory, the
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takes an in-depth look at the history surrounding this disaster. The 11 lost ships were part of the
Spanish Plate Fleet. The Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Museum in
644:). As large parts of the Florida coast remained unprotected by lighthouses until late in the 19th century, ships frequently wrecked along coast, particularly along the
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to better control navigation through the Florida Straits. Although Fort Jefferson was never finished, construction continued for 30 years, and vast quantities of
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Spain captured Pensacola in 1781 and regained control of the rest of Florida in 1783, when Britain gave Florida to Spain in exchange for the Bahamas and
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was heading south close to the Florida coastâto avoid the northerly Gulf Stream currentâwhen it suddenly crashed into a reef offshore of present-day
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368:, and assist in saving survivors and salvaging cargoes from vessels that wrecked along Florida's shores as a result of hurricanes and mishaps.
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began building a series of lighthouses as aids to navigation along the coasts of Florida to mark dangerous headlands, shoals, bars and reefs.
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During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Spanish, French and English continued to fight over territory and religion in Florida. The British in
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and other products to the Atlantic states, the Caribbean and Europe. The Federal government began construction of coastal forts including
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and the Atlantic Ocean, Florida has a long and rich maritime history. The size and shape of Florida, along with its natural features like
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In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, looking for a faster way to Asia by sea, European explorers sailed west and ran into the
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to establish a foothold and expand their areas of control. The first evidence of a European encounter in Florida is the arrival of
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It was during Florida's second Spanish period that folklore claims that shipping in the Gulf of Mexico was ravaged by the pirate
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remains at some of the earliest places they lived now are underwater and on the bottom of rivers and springs and offshore on the
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Over the years, many Spanish ships were lost off the Florida coast with the greatest disasters suffered by the fleets of 1622,
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and other industries sprouted and flourished, exporting their products to other British colonies and trading illegally with
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From the late 16th through the 18th centuries, the Spanish sent annual convoys of merchant and military escort vessels from
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to watch the horizon and warn St. Augustine of approaching ships, a strategy that failed them in 1586, when English
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Following statehood in 1845, Florida's economy became stronger and the principal ports shipped vast quantities of
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valley. The Spanish relied not only on Castillo de San Marcos to protect St. Augustine, but began construction of
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attacked and looted St. Augustine. The French effort to establish a colony in Florida is memorialized today at
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Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), St. AugustineâMaritime Archaeology in America's Oldest Port
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Florida has been recorded by the National Park Service in its Inventory of Historic Light Stations and by the
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and other coastal forts and settlements in Florida to provide protection from French and British raiders and
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training station was established by the U.S. Navy at Pensacola in 1913 and another in Jacksonville in 1940.
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199:. He landed in Tampa Bay with nine ships and over 600 soldiers. He spent five months around what is today
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Alligator Reef Lighthouse, east of Indian Key. Completed on November 25, 1873, it became automated in 1963
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and settlement was substantial. As the British population increased and slaves were brought in, colonial
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From at least six thousand years ago, the native people of Florida traveled the waterways and coasts by
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588:. Though Gaspar is a well-known figure along Florida's Gulf coast and is celebrated at Tampa's annual
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patrolled the Caribbean and the North American coastline. One ship that was lost during this time was
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higher and has covered nearly half of the Florida peninsula. Many people lived near springs and
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lived as a slave in the Tampa Bay area for nearly twelve years before being rescued in 1539 by
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and South Carolina attempted to push southward and the French moved eastward along the
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in the country, resulting in the state becoming an international maritime crossroads.
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expanded across the state connecting the ports and the interior, and steamboats like
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Eleven Spanish galleons were lost in the hurricane of 1715, wrecking on the shallow
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and other highly sought goods from Asia that reached the Americas via the Spanish
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in 1985. The value of the ship's treasure has been estimated at $ 300,000,000.
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in St. Augustineâconstruction started in 1672 and was completed 23 years later
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140:. Seeing new resources to exploit, people to convert and lands to claim, the
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Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, set aside as a national monument by President
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The Legend of Gasparilla: Myth and History on Florida's West Coast â
897:, jet skiers, wind-surfers, power boaters, sail boaters, water-skiers and
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colony. His expedition first arrived in Florida, and marked a spot on the
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captured Fort Caroline in a brutal fight with the French and established
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recaptured Fort Caroline. In 1569, the Spanish built a watchtower at
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Although Britain's control of Florida was brief, its effect on the
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682:, which ran aground on a reef near Islamorada on November 18, 1822
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canoes have been found in more than two hundred sites in Florida.
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in the continental United States, making it a haven for fish and
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1005:, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pgs. 26, 27, 110 & 200
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ranching, lumber, manufacturing and extractive industries like
219:. He sailed away after two years, a broken and beaten man. The
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and along rivers and near the coasts in areas like present-day
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and up the coast of North America before heading east for the
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in the National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary
1120:
Maritime history of the United States by state or territory
883:
Underwater artifact with sea life off the coast of Florida
462:
Fort Matanzasâview of fort's western and southern facades.
997:
De Soto National Memorial (National Park Service) â
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Near the end of the 19th century, and as a result of the
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seaboard areas, the Northeast and as far away as Europe.
500:, the wreck of which is located within the boundaries of
489:(1739 through 1748) between Spain and Great Britain, the
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for future settlement and then headed north to establish
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Spain ceded Florida to the United States as part of the
516:, Spain gave Britain control of Florida in exchange for
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made Key West the largest and richest city in Florida.
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at full speed. In 1994, the remains became the fifth
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The homeward bound Spanish plate fleets followed the
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in 1528 and proceeded north to the area now known as
584:(also known as Gasparilla) from his "regal" base in
627:towers proved vulnerable to storms and erosionâthe
215:but lost all except three of his supply ships to a
482:in 1740 for additional protection from the south.
35:describes significant past events relating to the
1070:Florida Shipwrecks: 500 Years of Maritime History
859:near rail lines. In 1900, during the daytime, SS
764:wreck, which was lost while transporting bricks.
254:led the settlers back to Florida and established
642:List of the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet Shipwrecks
556:Gulf Islands National Seashore, near Pensacola
504:and which has been extensively studied by the
171:Ponce de LeĂłn was followed by fellow Spaniard
144:, the French and the English sent militaries,
690:and four forts to defend it. What remains of
8:
1023:Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society â
827:became important, prompting improvements in
520:, which the British had captured during the
66:A long and flat peninsula surrounded by the
16:History of waters in and adjacent to Florida
572:and Mexico. This was made possible because
1013:Florida's Shipwrecks and Treasures â
63:and development of the Florida peninsula.
756:were shipped to the key in flat-bottomed
227:is believed to be one of his lost ships.
225:Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research
95:Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
1008:Florida Maritime Heritage Trail â
958:
920:, found after a sixteen-year search by
234:to the New World intending to found a
437:Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area
7:
1056:This article contains text from the
1038:St. Augustine-America's Ancient City
967:"The Legend of Gasparilla (reprint)"
297:Late 16th through the 18th centuries
211:established a short-lived colony at
1100:National Park Service Shipwreck map
1085:Florida Maritime Historical Society
1051:The Pensacola Maritime Site â
1028:Naval Historical Center â USS
686:In 1826, construction began on the
671:while escorting a merchant convoy.
443:has displays of treasure and other
132:European exploration (1500 - 1700s)
1095:Abandoned Shipwreck Act Guidelines
869:Underwater Archaeological Preserve
631:built in Key West in 1825 and the
250:. The colony failed, and in 1564,
14:
1066:Brief Maritime History of Florida
97:, relying on fresh and saltwater
812:took over plantation lands, and
801:that struck a Confederate mine.
531:Biscayne National Park, home to
345:fleet that crossed the Pacific.
992:Alligator Reef, Florida â
291:Fort Caroline National Memorial
159:in the vicinity of present-day
1064:. The text is from the essay
974:Boca Grande Historical Society
947:List of lighthouses in Florida
704:Gulf Islands National Seashore
612:of 1819, and Florida became a
547:Gulf Islands National Seashore
59:constructed to protect or aid
1:
775:in 1935, and redesignated as
360:and Spain. The Spanish built
321:from the mines of Mexico and
305:to Spain. Referred to as the
248:Parris Island, South Carolina
804:After the Civil War, tenant
252:René Goulaine de LaudonniÚre
221:Emanuel Point shipwreck site
105:as important parts of their
1115:Maritime history of Florida
678:Artist illustration of USS
183:. Only four members of the
33:maritime history of Florida
1136:
777:Dry Tortugas National Park
590:Gasparilla Pirate Festival
455:, which was lost in 1622.
223:discovered in 1992 by the
209:TristĂĄn de Luna y Arellano
189:Ălvar NĂșñez Cabeza de Vaca
1018:Heraldtribune.com â
783:Florida seceded from the
638:United States Coast Guard
230:In 1562, the French sent
205:De Soto National Memorial
918:Nuestra Señora de Atocha
510:Florida State University
449:Nuestra Señora de Atocha
410:from the 1715 fleet and
401:Nuestra Señora de Atocha
267:Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
207:. In 1559, Spaniard Don
787:in 1861 and joined the
760:like that found at the
596:18th and 19th centuries
435:at the southern end of
433:McLarty Treasure Museum
372:17th and 18th centuries
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502:Biscayne National Park
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383:Castillo de San Marcos
362:Castillo de San Marcos
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928:Under U.S. and Cuban
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404:from the 1622 fleet,
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275:Dominique de Gourgues
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838:City of Hawkinsville
711:SpanishâAmerican War
648:, where for a while
309:, the ships carried
307:Spanish plate fleets
187:survived, including
43:in areas concerning
688:Pensacola Navy Yard
487:War of Jenkins' Ear
1060:, which is in the
942:History of Florida
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773:Franklin Roosevelt
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618:federal government
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354:Straits of Florida
265:In 1565, Spaniard
185:NarvĂĄez expedition
173:PĂĄnfilo de NarvĂĄez
157:Juan Ponce de LeĂłn
55:installations and
29:
908:contain the only
875:Late 19th century
715:aircraft carriers
610:AdamsâOnĂs Treaty
570:Spanish Louisiana
476:Mississippi River
115:continental shelf
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979:December 23,
977:. Retrieved
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814:agriculture
789:Confederacy
742:Fort Taylor
582:José Gaspar
566:plantations
485:During the
429:Fort Pierce
350:Gulf Stream
244:Charlesfort
232:Jean Ribaut
201:Tallahassee
126:prehistoric
57:lighthouses
1109:Categories
953:References
922:Mel Fisher
861:Copenhagen
852:Copenhagen
798:Maple Leaf
758:steamboats
700:Fort McRee
669:Islamorada
633:lighthouse
629:lighthouse
491:Royal Navy
472:Gulf Coast
327:porcelains
193:Juan Ortiz
61:navigation
49:shipwrecks
37:U.S. state
1030:Alligator
895:fishermen
833:Railroads
822:phosphate
793:Civil War
719:seaplanes
680:Alligator
664:Alligator
662:USS
657:U.S. Navy
574:surveyors
543:Gibraltar
533:HMS
495:HMS
474:from the
445:artifacts
413:San Pedro
319:gemstones
283:privateer
217:hurricane
181:Apalachee
177:Tampa Bay
150:colonists
103:shellfish
91:sinkholes
1072: â
1040: â
1032: â
936:See also
850:SS
843:SS
762:Bird Key
723:aviation
650:wrecking
441:Key West
423:between
236:Huguenot
154:Spaniard
138:Americas
53:military
45:shipping
1003:Florida
806:farmers
779:in 1992
625:Masonry
562:economy
468:Georgia
366:pirates
142:Spanish
87:fathoms
80:harbors
41:Florida
25:Florida
23:Map of
857:hotels
845:Tarpon
825:mining
818:cattle
754:bricks
738:lumber
734:cotton
730:citrus
358:Azores
339:spices
335:pearls
325:, and
315:silver
109:. The
70:, the
51:, and
27:, 1835
1048:(PDF)
970:(PDF)
914:coral
785:Union
721:, an
640:(see
535:Fowey
497:Fowey
447:from
421:reefs
331:silks
166:Tampa
122:canoe
76:reefs
981:2019
904:The
848:and
808:and
717:and
698:and
655:The
508:and
451:and
427:and
396:1733
394:and
392:1715
380:The
323:Peru
317:and
311:gold
303:Cuba
285:Sir
148:and
107:diet
101:and
99:fish
31:The
930:law
39:of
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972:.
901:.
841:,
831:.
816:,
736:,
732:,
706:.
694:,
549:.
337:,
333:,
329:,
313:,
262:.
168:.
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