Notes for an upcoming trip

Fort Jefferson located 70 miles west of Key West on Garden Key covers 16 acres and was made with over 16 million bricks. Built to control the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico construction began in 1846 but was never fully completed. It was the third largest seacoast fortification built in the United States and was designed to garrison 1500 troops. With the threat of Florida’s secession in late 1860, the superintending engineer for construction and future Quartermaster General of the US Army, Captain Montgomery C. Meigs, called for reinforcements to prevent its seizure by Southern militia. The gunboat USS Mohawk was sent from Key West in November 1860 to discourage any seizure attempts. In January 1861, after Florida had seceded from the Union, a force of 66 men of the 2nd U.S. Artillery commanded by Major Arnold arrived at Fort Jefferson. For the remainder of the war, Fort Jefferson served as a Union military post and prison. At one point, there were as many as 2,000 people on the island, including soldiers and their families, laborers, and prisoners. In July 1865, Fort Jefferson received its most infamous prisoners when four men convicted of conspiracy in the assassination of President Lincoln were imprisoned there including Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, Samuel Arnold, Michael O’Laughlen, and Edman Spangler. During a yellow fever outbreak in 1867, after the prison doctor died, Dr. Mudd risked his life to provide treatment to the fort’s soldiers. As a result, President Andrew Johnson pardoned him in 1869.

There is a ferry that operates to Fort Jefferson from Key West. The boat is the Yankee Freedom a high speed, state-of-the-art, all aluminum catamaran. The 70-mile ride is 2 hours and 15 minutes in each direction. There is a tour on the island (total time on the island 4.5 hours). The cost for the ride and the day trip is $225.00 (link).