The Army finally abandoned Fort Jefferson in 1874.  In 1908 the area became a wildlife refuge to protect nesting birds from egg collectors.  In 1935 Fort Jefferson was proclaimed as a National Monument but it was not until 1992 the Dry Tortugas reached it's current status as a National Park.

(Page 3 of 3 Pages)

Harbor Lighthouse at fort

Time to head back to Key West. Our pilot Dave loading the seaplane

This is Ballast Key. The only island that has a private home on it

WWII Destroyer Escort, the 'Patricia'. She was intentionally sunk by the US Navy for bombing pratice

Some of the Marquesas Islands, about 25 miles from Key West

Another one of the Marquesas Islands

There is some speculation that these islands were formed from a meteorite impact

Others just think they were formed naturally shaped by the wind and wave action

That's a boat down there passing the island

 

You may find more information about the Dry Tortugas National Park at their web site

www.nps.gov/drto/index.

 

Page 2

Page 1

Winter 2004- 2005