Dry Tortugas National Park Travel Guide
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Dry Tortugas National Park
by jorgejuansanchez
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The island looked pretty from the...
by jorgejuansanchez
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Dry Tortugas National Park
by jorgejuansanchez
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Dry Tortugas National Park
by Spacemanspiff
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Sports & Outdoors
by DEBBBEDB
In a nutshell
A great place to relax for a day or more
Explore Dry Tortugas National Park
Land Flora and Birds
grandmaR Says:
The national park service has informational signs about even the smallest plants, but most of their energy is concentrated on the birdsBetween March and September as some 100,000 sooty terns gather on Bush Key for their nesting season. They perform nocturnal maneuvers above...
Self Guided Tour
grandmaR Says:
Most of the ferries have a guided tour for their visitors. We listened in on one of these tours one morning when we were there. There are also intermittent ranger-led tours and also wildlife and bird tours led by the rangers. Check at the visitor center for more information....
Meet the People
Basaic Says:
It is always fun to meet the locals and your fellow travelers. Here are: Angela and Brooke part of the crew of the Fast Cat (and some guy in a VT Hat); Tony; Ranger Kelly; Shannon a volunteer at the park; and Nathalie a Russian girl working in New York and Aleks her Azeri...
The Lighthouse
Basaic Says:
They built a lighthouse on top of the fort, unfortunately it was too short and not bright enough so it was never really used for the intended purpose. A taller, brighter lighthouse was later built on nearby Loggerhead Key.
The Dungeon
Basaic Says:
This is the dungeon where the prisoners were held. Dr. Mudd was held here to but he had his own cell. There is still a lot of debate as to whether Mudd was a willing co-conspirator to the assassination of President Lincoln or was just in the wrong place at the wrong time....
Cannons
Basaic Says:
Here are some of the cannons used on the fort. The first one is called a Parrot Rifle. It is grooved inside the barrel to add power, range and accuracy to the shell. These are the type of guns that made this type of fort obsolete. The next two photos are of 15-inch Rodman...
Heating Cannonballs
Basaic Says:
This building was used to heat the cannonballs. This was a new concept of warfare. When the cannonballs were heated enough they would not only damage the ship they hit but would set them afire. This began the end of the wooden ships. If you study any of the history of...
Memorial
Basaic Says:
Here is a memorial for Brevet Major Joseph Sim Smith and his son both of whom died at Fort Jefferson in 1867 of Yellow Fever. The son was only 3. Smith was the post surgeon so his loss was a major blow to the fort. The adverse impact was greatly lessened though because the...
Living Quarters
Basaic Says:
This is where the officer’s quarters and the commander’s quarters were. This is also where the rangers and the volunteers live. The rangers and the volunteers live on site for up to a month at a time due to the remoteness of the location.
Ferry Passengers Lunch: Included
Helpfulness
grandmaR 6478 reviews
The passengers on either of the ferry boats get lunch included in their fee. The seaplane people get two drinks in a cooler with ice, but no food. So if you come by seaplane for the whole day, bring your own lunch.
Favorite Dish: The larger boat has a snack bar on it. I don't know if it is open during the time they are at the fort.
Updated Oct 11, 2005
- Related to:
- Cruise
- Beaches
- National/State Park
Anchorage at Garden Key: Watch the Sunset or Trade Beer for Shrimp
grandmaR Says:
About the only night time activity is watching the sunset (or the clouds - photo 4) and the birds circling over the fort (photo 2 and 3), or talking to other campers or boaters. Photo 5 shows a workboat and a sailboat anchored in front of the fort.After the commercial...
The fast Catamaran
jelw Says:
I give in. I'll take a stab at upgrading this tip since someone has decided to rate it daily. I recommend the Fast Cat for it's cleanliness, timeliness and the capable staff. I found it superior to one of the slower boats on a number of points but most simply because it...
The Fast Cat
Basaic Says:
I took the Fast Cat. It goes 27 knots and makes the 70 mile trip in about 2 ½ hours. It was fast and clean and the crew was very friendly and professional. A limited breakfast and a lunch was provided. The fare was $165 as of April 2010. I got a $30 discount because of my...
Private Boating to the Dry Tortugas
Basaic Says:
There are currently two ways to get to the Dry Tortugas. You can come by private boat or commercial boat. There are places to anchor nearby but no pier for docking. The old seaplanes are no longer available.
Obey Warning Signs
Basaic Says:
Obey all warning signs around the island. Although the fort is a level walking surface the footing is sometimes rough. The stairs are spiral and the steps narrow. There are cacti and open vents around the fort so be careful where you step. Stay off the cannons and the fort...
Abandon Hope
grandmaR Says:
The fort was not build as a prison. It became a prison in 1861when President Lincoln commuted the sentence for deserters to life imprisonment here - it had no dungeons, but it was very secure because it was so isolated.On April 15, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot and killed...
Carry an Extra Barrell
DEBBBEDB Says:
My husband and son and their buddies love to go down here to fish. I don't eat fish so I rarely go with them.
The boys usually stop at a shrimp boat on the way down. The shrimpers sleep during the day and work at night. They will give you a pail of shrimp for beer or other...
Anchorage
grandmaR Says:
There is a good anchorage off the fort. It used to be that you could come into it from either end, but the access from the north side has drifted shut, so you have to go all the way around the fort and come in from the south. Vessels may only anchor overnight on sandy bottom...
Snorkel the Coral Reefs
Basaic Says:
Snorkel gear is provided as part of the price of your ticket on the boat. You will be on the island for 4 hours or so. Some of the best snorkeling is near the ruins of the piers.
Swimsuit and Sunscreen. Snorkeling gear is provided.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Basaic Says:
Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its bird and marine life, its...
Explore Deeper into Dry Tortugas National Park
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