DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK is comprised of seven islands of coral reefs and sand. Located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, it is accessible only by boat or seaplane. Prior to our arrival here in Key West, I had no idea this national park, designated in 1992, existed. We booked our flight on a 10-passenger floatplane where Jim took the right seat and off we flew, about 350 feet above the water, to Fort Jefferson and DTNP.
Named Dry Tortuga to alert early mariners there was no fresh water available, but an abundance of turtles, the island today consists of Fort Jefferson which began construction in 1846, yet never finished. The idea was that the United States could control navigation to the Gulf of Mexico and protect Atlantic-bound Mississippi River trade by fortifying this area. During the Civil War, with no trade on the Mississippi, there was nothing to protect and the fort was never completed. It was used, however, as a Union military prison for captured deserters and held four men convicted of complicity in Lincoln’s assassination. The most well known, Dr. Samuel Mudd, tended to John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg sustained when jumping from the balcony at Ford’s Theater.
Today the park welcomes visitors and serves as a sanctuary for the endangered green sea turtles. There is also an almost-impossible-to-book small (tent) campground. Catch the ferry, load up to 60 pounds per person, and book a night at this national park!
Camp Dawg 