July 2018 
Now Open Wednesdays; Seeking Volunteers 

Keys History & Discovery Center is now open for business on Wednesdays. Regular business hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
 
The Discovery Center is staffed primarily through the efforts of volunteers who serve as docents and greeters to guests. "Our volunteers are individuals with a special interest in the Upper Keys community and its unique history," said Jill Miranda Baker, executive director. "They enjoy sharing our history and interacting with guests who frequently have their own stories to tell about time spent in the Keys."
 
Individuals interested in volunteering should call the Discovery Center at 305-922-2237. Daily shifts run from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and 1:30-5 p.m.
Walk Historic Islamorada, Download App 

T ake a stroll through a historic stretch of Islamorada and learn some amazing Florida Keys history via a narrated walking tour with accompanying historic images. Walk Historic Islamorada is available through a free app, Florida Stories, at FISstories.org, the Google Play Store or iStore.
 
Developed by Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation (FKHDF) in partnership with and funding provided by the Florida Humanities Council and the Division of State, Department of Cultural Affairs, Walk Historic Islamorada is a unique Upper Keys experience.
 
"From the beginnings of the Overseas Highway to the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane that toppled Henry Flagler's Over-Sea Railroad, Walk Historic Islamorada tells a surprising array of stories that have impacted the local history," said Brad Bertelli, Foundation curator, who selected the historic stops, wrote the narrative and compiled the accompanying photos.
 
The ten-stop tour launches from the iconic Green Turtle Inn. It is an approximately one-mile journey revealing stories of early pioneers, the most powerful hurricane to ever strike North America, the hurricane or Red Cross Houses built for survivors, the memorial built to honor the hundreds of victims, and one of the few bona fide pirate stories connected to the island chain. The tour ends at the Pioneer Cemetery located on the picturesque beach of the Cheeca Lodge, at one time the heart of this historic community.
 
"After taking the walking tour, head over to the Keys History & Discovery Center on the property of the Islander Resort, and learn much more about the vast and unique history of the Upper Keys," Bertelli said. "Start with the first people of the Keys, learn tales from pirates and wreckers, see artifacts from the 1733 fleet, view a model of Indian Key, circa 1840, Flagler's Over-Sea Railroad, and so much more."
 
Florida Stories supports the creation of cultural, historical, and architectural walking tours for communities across the state of Florida. The Florida Stories app allows users to learn about the history of some of Florida's most unique towns at their own pace and on their own schedule.  Nearly 20 walking tour locations are available on the app, including St. Augustine, Tampa's Ybor City, and Key West.
Two Locals Join Foundation Board of Directors 

A local insurance agent and a real estate professional have joined the Board of Directors of the Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation (FKHDF). The not-for-profit organization formed in 2013 to develop and operate the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center.

Roberto I. Alonso is the owner/operator of Borland & Associates Insurance in Key Largo and currently serves as the chairman of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami-Dade, he was a resident of Hialeah for many years. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton with a bachelor's degree in political science, and has been a Key Largo resident since 2005. Alonso has been coming to the Keys since the 1970s spending time fishing from the Bahia Honda Bridge and in Tavernier. He has been married to his wife Ana for 50 years, has two children and five grandchildren.
 
Emily (Griffin) Carter, a graduate of Coral Shores High School, is part of the real estate team at American Caribbean Real Estate. She spends her time in philanthropic activities, including as a committee member with the Bougainvillea Ball supporting Mariners Hospital, and as co-founder of Flagler's Folly Society, a member organization of FKHDF formed in 2015 to promote the mission to preserve and share the history of the Upper Keys. Carter lives in Tavernier with husband Justin, also a graduate of Coral Shores, and their two children.
Sixth-Generation Conch Erin Muir Joins Staff  

Erin Muir, a sixth-generation Conch from Tavernier, has joined the staff of the Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation as membership coordinator for Keys History & Discovery Center. In her new role, Muir is responsible for membership recruitment and retention, member communications, and member programs and services.

"In four short years, Keys History & Discovery Center has grown in its offerings and in membership. With the addition of Erin we will increase focus on the needs of our growing membership," said Foundation Executive Director Jill Miranda Baker. "We are thrilled she is taking her passion for her extensive local family history and sharing it with the community."

Muir is a founding co-chair of Flagler's Folly Society (FFS), a member group of the Foundation, formed in 2015 to promote the engagement of young professionals with the Keys History & Discovery Center and Upper Keys history. Before joining the staff at the Foundation, Muir served as legislative aide and campaign manager to State Rep. Holly Raschein for six years. 

Prior to returning home to the Keys where she grew up, Muir worked in the not-for-profit field with American Cancer Society and Ronald McDonald House. 

In addition to the FFS, she is the chair of the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition, a graduate of Leadership Monroe Class XXIII, a trustee of the Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys, and a member of the Mariners Hospital Young Philanthropists of Baptist Health. 

A graduate of Coral Shores High School, Muir earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the Honors College at the University of Florida as well as a master's degree in public affairs from UF in 2009. She lives in Tavernier with husband Sam Muir and their daughter Violet.
Traveling Exhibit Now On Display...Treasures of NOAA's Ark

The history of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. are intertwined. NOAA's roots date back to 1807 when Thomas Jefferson established the nation's first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast. Since, NOAA has evolved and emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters. 

Treasures of NOAA's Ark traveling exhibit showcases an array of heritage artifacts which tell the story of how the people, technology and resources shaped NOAA and its predecessor agencies. Exhibit highlights include viewing instruments used by the Office of Coast Survey to chart and navigate, learning about NOAA Commissioned Officers Corps, paying tribute to our wartime heroes with Weathermen at War, and enjoying art and science together with cartoon strip Sherman's Lagoon.

Exhibit is on display now through February 2019. 
Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation, which operates Keys History & Discovery Center, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. As such, donations to the Foundation help support the annual fund, as well as specific projects, including the current Mote Marine Laboratory's Coral Reef Exploration exhibit in production and expected to be permanently installed in the fall. For more information about making a contribution, Visit our website or call 305-922-2237.