November 2014

The Rails and The Road Now on Display

A photographic collection of the building, use and end of Henry Flagler's railroad as well as the development of the first Overseas Highway is on display at the Keys History & Discovery Center (KHDC) in Islamorada.

The exhibit, The Rails and The Road, features more than 150 black and white images, and explores the two conduits that have linked mainland America to her southernmost archipelago, the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway and the Overseas Highway.

While the completion of the train in 1912 forever changed life in the Florida Keys, the opening of the first Overseas Highway in 1928 made it possible for motorists to reach Key West. The Rails and The Road tells the story of these two conduits from contemplation to completion through scores of historic photographs and informative storyboards.  

The exhibit runs through Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at the Discovery Center in Islamorada, MM 82, located at the Islander Resort, a Guy Harvey Outpost. The exhibit is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $12. Admission for seniors is $10 and children 13-under are free. Annual members of the Discovery Center receive free admission.

Keys History and Discovery Foundation Welcomes Three New Board Members

Everglades conservationist Mary Barley, long-time local banker Vicki Walker and hospitality industry professional Karen Thurman have joined the Board of Directors of the Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation. The not-for-profit organization formed in 2013 to develop and operate the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center.

Ms. Barley, an Islamorada resident and long-time conservationist, is a founding Board member of the Everglades Foundation, serving seven years as chairperson. She also serves as chairperson of the Everglades Trust, and serves on numerous other conservation-related national boards. Ms. Barley earned several honors for her work, including being named Time Magazine's Hero for the Planet in 1999 and being recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record during Women's History Month in 2013. She is an honorary Miccosukee and an honorary Conch. 

An assistant vice president and branch manager for Centennial Bank, Ms. Walker has long been involved in local not-for-profits, including Good Health Clinic, Mariners Hospital Auxiliary and Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, where she served on the board of directors, including a term as president. Ms. Walker has been a Take Stock in Children mentor, successfully sending two students to college. She also is a member of Upper Keys Business & Professional Women, Rotary Club of the Upper Keys and a graduate of Leadership Monroe County. She resides in Key Largo.

Ms. Thurman, the Director of Operations at the Islander Resort, was most recently based in Key West as regional director of sales and marketing for Heartland Hotel Corporation. Ms. Thurman, active in the Key West community, is a member and former president of the Rotary Club of Key West and previously served on the Key West Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is a graduate of Leadership Monroe and is licensed in pyrotechnics. She is in the process of relocating to the Upper Keys.

1935 Hurricane Survivors Shared Stories with an Audience of 130!

Five hurricane survivors came together to share their stories and experiences during and after the Great Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Alma Pinder Dalton, Charles Louis Pellicier, Everette Albury, Joseph Pinder Jr., and Norman Parker addressed an audience of more than 130 at a special presentation on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at the Keys History & Discovery Center in Islamorada.

Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation (FKHDF) Board President Rich Russell moderated the presentation. FKHDF organized the event. In addition, two special guests were recognized. First was Upper Keys Historian and president of the Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys Jerry Wilkinson for his decades of work preserving the community's history. Wilkinson also serves as a Board Emeritus Member with FKHDF.

The second guest was WPLG/Ch. 10 Meteorologist Max Mayfield, the former director of the National Hurricane Center. Mayfield attended with a reporter/videographer, conducting one-on-one interviews with the speakers and recording the presentation. While a brief segment ran on Ch. 10 (and can be found on Facebook at Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation), Mayfield plans to use additional footage to air during the 2015 Hurricane Season.

The session was recorded and DVDs soon will be available at Keys History & Discovery Center.

Brad Bertelli and the Curator's Corner: What's Next?

Thanks to a grant from the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, we can begin work on the build-out of the second floor theater as well as four permanent exhibits. The exhibits, scheduled to be presented in February 2015, include: Pirates, Wreckers and Treasure Hunters; The First People; Legends of the Line Two; and Spanish Treasure Fleets. These four exhibits will reinforce the Discovery Center's mission to explore and present the history of the Upper Keys.

In addition to the four permanent exhibits, the next rotating exhibit will be Roadside Attractions, exploring the history of some of the sights visible (and not quite visible) from the Overseas Highway, the exhibit also will debunk some of their myths. A sample of the attractions to be included in the exhibit are: Caribbean Club, Betsy the Lobster, Theater of the Sea, Robbie's Marina, the Dolphin Research Center and Sugarloaf Key's Perky's Bat Tower. Roadside Attractions opens February 2015.

In the meantime, thank you to all who came out to explore our last exhibit, The Great Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Make sure to stop by and discover our newest exhibit, The Rails and The Road, a peek into the development of Henry Flagler's Key West Extension and the building of the Overseas Highway.

Four Hours a Day...Volunteer at the Discovery Center

As the holidays approach, snowbirds arrive and tourists come for visits, our need for volunteers increases. Volunteers cover two shifts a day, four days a week. They staff the main entrance, greet and interact with visitors, provide an explanation of the Discovery Center, promote annual memberships, and handle admission fees and retail sales. Please consider volunteering. For more information, contact Phyllis Mitchell at phyllis@sunsetbay82.com or call 305-301-3624.

A special shout-out to all the volunteers who covered 88 shifts during the most recent exhibit! Lisa Bradeen, Matt Hetman and Meredith Tracy each volunteered more than 30 hours.Thank you all for keeping us open and sharing the history of our community.  

Give the Gift of Membership!

Looking for a unique gift for friends and family? Why not give a gift that lasts an entire year? Several different levels are offered with a range of benefits, including discounts in the retail area and complimentary guest passes to share. Annual Membership cost range from $65 to $10,000. Our book selection also offers unique gift ideas, including Islamorada and Key Largo, written by our own Brad Bertelli and Jerry Wilkinson. To purchase a membership gift or books, call 305-922-2237 or stop by the Discovery Center.

Holiday Shopping Online? Go through Amazon Smiles

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation. Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/46-1936911 and support us every time you shop.