01 Feb 2/8/2024 Key West Art & Historical Society: Distinguished Speaker Series — The History of Indian Key
Native Americans began visiting and living on Indian Key around A.D. 800, and were likely a submissive tribe to either the Tequesta or Calusa chiefdoms. In 1829 the island’s population was around 50 people, mostly transient fishermen, turtlers and wreckers. Jacob Housman of Key West bought Indian Key in 1831 and set out to build his own wrecking empire to compete with the monopoly in Key West. In 1840, Indian Key was attacked by a large party of Indians. Join speaker Barbara Edgar, president of