Islamorada history: the 1935 hurricane, the railroad and the islands

This is Islamorada’s history as the primary sources tell it: the Village of Islamorada, NOAA, the National Park Service, Florida State Parks and FDOT. Where they are silent, we are too. We do not give a death toll for the 1935 hurricane, because the sources disagree and we did not read one on a primary page. Every record was checked on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Before the railroad

The Village says archaeological evidence shows Native American populations lived on these islands two to three thousand years ago, and that the first historical record dates to 1513, when Ponce de Leon passed through the Keys. Early settlers from the Bahamas and New England shipped pineapples, sponges and shipwreck goods to northern markets. Offshore, Florida State Parks says the San Pedro, a Dutch-built ship in a Spanish flotilla, sank in a hurricane on July 13, 1733.

• The Village says archaeological evidence shows Native American populations lived on the islands two to three thousand years ago, and the first historical record dates to 1513, when Ponce de Leon passed through the Keys. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters
• The Village says early settlers from the Bahamas and New England shipped pineapples, sponges and shipwreck goods to northern markets, and population grew after Henry Flagler's railroad to Key West opened in 1912. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters
• Florida State Parks says the San Pedro was a 287-ton, Dutch-built ship in a Spanish flotilla that sank in a hurricane on July 13, 1733; its remains were found in 1960 in Hawk Channel near Indian Key. Florida State Parks: San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park

Indian Key had its own short boom. Florida State Parks says Jacob Housman bought it in 1831 and in 1836 had it made the first county seat of Dade County. In 1840, Indians attacked the island, destroying all but one building and killing Dr. Henry Perrine. Only stone foundations remain, and the park has been closed since April 2026 for a dock rebuild; see our Indian Key and Lignumvitae page.

• Florida State Parks says Jacob Housman bought Indian Key in 1831 and in 1836 had it made the first county seat of Dade County. Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park, History
• Florida State Parks says Indians attacked the island in 1840, destroying all but one building and killing Dr. Henry Perrine; today only stone foundations remain. Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park, History
• Florida State Parks posts: "Effective April 2026: Indian Key Historic State Park is completely closed to the public while contractors rebuild the Park's dock. The project is slated to take up to six months." Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park

Flagler’s railroad and the Windley Key quarry

The Village says the population grew after Henry Flagler’s railroad to Key West opened in 1912. Some of the railroad was built from Windley Key: Florida State Parks says the Key Largo limestone there was sold to the Florida East Coast Railroad to build the Overseas Railroad, and the quarry went on producing decorative Keystone until the 1960s. Today you can walk along its 8-foot-high quarry walls at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, MM 84.9, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday for $2.50. The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail incorporates 23 historic Flagler Railroad bridges. In 1919, William J. Matheson, a Miami chemist, bought Lignumvitae Key and built the caretaker’s home that is now its visitor center.

• Florida State Parks says the Key Largo limestone here was sold to the Florida East Coast Railroad to build Flagler's Overseas Railroad, and the quarry produced decorative Keystone until the 1960s. Visitors walk along 8-foot-high quarry walls. Florida State Parks: Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
• Florida State Parks says Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Florida State Parks: Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Hours & Fees
• Admission to Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is $2.50 per person. Florida State Parks: Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Hours & Fees
• Florida State Parks says the trail incorporates 23 historic Flagler Railroad bridges and parallels U.S. Highway 1, a National Scenic Highway and All-American Road. Florida State Parks: Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
• Florida State Parks says William J. Matheson, a Miami chemist, bought the island in 1919 and built a caretaker's home with a windmill and cistern; it is now the visitor center. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

The 1935 Labor Day hurricane

NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory says that on the evening of September 2, 1935, the most intense hurricane to strike the United States on record roared through the Florida Keys, taking hundreds of lives. It says the storm was found by Capt. Leonard Povey, flying for the Cuban army air corps, in what it calls an unprecedented flight that warned of its approach. Read NOAA’s account on its hurricane blog.

The photo above shows the relief train derailed near Islamorada by the storm. We do not add numbers or details to NOAA’s account.

• NOAA's AOML says that on the evening of September 2, 1935, the most intense hurricane to strike the United States on record roared through the Florida Keys, taking hundreds of lives. NOAA AOML: 80th Anniversary of the Labor Day Hurricane and first hurricane reconnaissance
• NOAA's AOML says the 1935 storm was found by Capt. Leonard Povey, flying for the Cuban army air corps, in what it calls an unprecedented flight that warned of its approach. NOAA AOML: 80th Anniversary of the Labor Day Hurricane and first hurricane reconnaissance

The Florida Keys Memorial at MM 81.5

The National Park Service lists the Florida Keys Memorial, known locally as the Hurricane Monument, in the National Register of Historic Places under reference number 95000238, at US 1 at Mile Marker 81.5 in Islamorada. Some listings say MM 82; we use the NPS figure. The NPS record gives the memorial’s period of significance as 1925 to 1949 and its areas of significance as social history, politics/government and art, and names Harold Lawson and Lampert Bemelmans as architect and builder. The Morada Way Arts & Cultural District describes its corridor as marked by the cornerstones of the Green Turtle Inn and the Hurricane Monument. We did not find an official page with visiting hours or parking for the monument.

• The National Park Service lists the Florida Keys Memorial in the National Register of Historic Places under reference number 95000238, located at US 1 at Mile Marker 81.5 in Islamorada. National Park Service NPGallery: Florida Keys Memorial (NRIS 95000238)
• The NPS record gives the memorial's period of significance as 1925 to 1949, its areas of significance as social history, politics/government and art, and names Harold Lawson and Lampert Bemelmans as architect/builder. National Park Service NPGallery: Florida Keys Memorial (NRIS 95000238)
• The National Park Service record for the Florida Keys Memorial gives its location and National Register details, but we did not find an official page with visiting hours or parking for the monument when we checked on October 21, 2026. National Park Service NPGallery: Florida Keys Memorial (NRIS 95000238)

See the NPS record for the nomination details. Library Beach Park, MM 81.5 bayside, is listed at the same mile marker.

After the storm: bridges, a museum and a village

FDOT says it rehabilitated the Tea Table Relief Bridge at Mile Marker 79.8 starting November 2023, with final acceptance received January 27, 2025; details are on FDOT’s project page. Robbie’s says it has been part of Islamorada since 1976, the year Robbie and Mona started feeding a tarpon called Scarface. The History of Diving Museum was incorporated in 2000, opened part-time in September 2005 and began full-time operation in September 2006. The Village itself was incorporated as a municipality on December 31, 1997, and runs under a Council-Manager form of government.

• FDOT says it rehabilitated the Tea Table Relief Bridge at Mile Marker 79.8 on US 1 starting November 2023, with final acceptance received January 27, 2025. FDOT South Florida: Tea Table Relief Bridge Rehabilitation Project
• Robbie's says it has been part of Islamorada since 1976 and that Robbie and his wife Mona started feeding a tarpon called Scarface in 1976. Robbie's of Islamorada: Feed the Tarpon
• The museum says it was built on the collection of Drs. Joe and Sally Bauer, was incorporated in 2000, opened part-time in September 2005 and began full-time operation in September 2006. History of Diving Museum: Museum History
• The Village says Islamorada was incorporated as a municipality on December 31, 1997. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters
• The Village operates under a Council-Manager form of government; the Village Council enacts local legislation, adopts budgets and sets policy. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

History you can visit

• The Florida Keys Memorial, US 1 at MM 81.5.
• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, MM 84.9: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday, $2.50.
• History of Diving Museum, 82990 Overseas Hwy (MM 83): daily 10 am to 5 pm, adults $15.
• Florida Keys History & Discovery Center, 82100 Overseas Hwy on the Islander Resort property: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., general admission $15.00.
• Lignumvitae Key’s Matheson house: by boat or kayak, Thursday through Monday.
• The San Pedro shipwreck preserve: boat only, free, 8 a.m. to sunset.

• The History of Diving Museum is at 82990 Overseas Hwy (MM 83), Islamorada, FL 33036, phone 305-664-9737, on the bayside of US 1. History of Diving Museum: Location & Hours
• The museum and store are open daily 10 am to 5 pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. History of Diving Museum: Location & Hours
• San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park is open 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year, with no fee. Florida State Parks: San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park

The day planner can put these in mile-marker order.

History FAQ

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Village of Islamorada (official site)