When Key West was one of the richest cities in the U. S. the key cash crop was shipwrecks.

Key West Shipwrecks

I mentioned Sloppy Joe’s and Key West the other day – here’s a quick peak at part of the island’s history.

There was a time when Key West was one of the richest cities in the U.S. – yes there was fishing, sponge-fishing, farming, turtling, Cuban cigars, salt and charcoal making – but they weren’t the reason for the abundance of wealth.

There’s a lotta reefs off Key West – Spanish galleons loaded with gold heading from South America back to Spain  encountered problems rounding Key West & often crashed on the rocks – maritime salvage laws kicked in – finders-keepers.

Galleons also sailing from Spain to South America also crashed on the reefs – their cargo included fine furniture and furnishings – and they also crashed on the reefs – finders-keepers.

The Spaniards eventually placed buoys so that their galleons could navigate the treacherous waters without crashing.

If you ever spent time in Key West – you probably noticed a type of architecture on the rooves on many of the houses – small structure with windows all the way around – called cupolas.

Lookouts would stand in the cupolas using binoculars to keep an eye on the shipping routes between Spain and South America – as soon as they’d spot sails in the distance – they’d signal salvagers to row out and move the buoys so that the galleons would steer straight onto the reefs.

Crash – boom – bang – finders-keepers.

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