Famous Firsts & Onlys in the Florida Keys (Because We’ve Always Been a Little Extra)

The Florida Keys have never exactly been what you’d call “normal.” From declaring mock independence to building a railroad over the ocean (because why not?), we’ve always done things the Keys way: bold, weird, wonderful, and just a little salty.

Here’s a collection of our favorite famous firsts and fabulous onlys that prove life at the end of the road has always been one-of-a-kind.

🌊 1. Only Living Coral Reef in the Continental U.S.

That’s right—we’re home to the Florida Reef, the one and only coral reef in the lower 48. It stretches from Biscayne Bay to the Dry Tortugas and makes snorkeling here feel like swimming through a tropical aquarium… if aquariums had parrotfish and the occasional friendly nurse shark.

🚂 2. First (Totally Bonkers) Overseas Railroad

In 1912, Henry Flagler decided a little thing like the Atlantic Ocean wasn’t going to stop him from reaching Key West. So he built the Overseas Railroad—a 156-mile engineering marvel locals called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Sadly, it was mostly destroyed in the 1935 hurricane, but the bragging rights remain eternal.

🏴‍☠️ 3. Only Micronation to Secede from the U.S. Over a Border Checkpoint

Welcome to the Conch Republic. In 1982, after the U.S. Border Patrol set up a checkpoint that slowed traffic (and tourism), Key West “seceded” from the union for a day, declared war, surrendered, and requested foreign aid—all before lunch. It’s now celebrated every April with parties, passports, and a lot of rum.

🏛️ 4. Only Presidential White House South of D.C. With Roosters

When President Harry S. Truman needed a break from politics (and probably snow), he retreated to the Truman Little White House in Key West. Between 1946 and 1952, he spent 175 days here doing serious things like signing executive orders—and less serious things like poker games on the porch.

🏳️‍🌈 5. First U.S. City to Stretch a Rainbow Flag Across the Island

Leave it to Key West to think big (and colorful). In 2003, the city rolled out a 1.25-mile-long rainbow flag from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico during Pride. Because if we’re going to do diversity and inclusion, we’re going to do it across the entire island.

🏖️ 6. Only Natural Sand Beach (Spoiler: Most of Ours Are Imported)

Believe it or not, Bahia Honda State Park has one of the only natural sand beaches in the Keys. Most of our “beaches” are trucked in, one grain at a time. But at Bahia Honda, Mother Nature did the work herself, and it’s glorious.

🤿 7. First Underwater State Park in the USA

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo was established in 1963 and made history as the first underwater park in the U.S. It’s basically a protected museum of living coral, and it even features an underwater statue of Christ. (Snorkel selfies encouraged.)

🌴 The Keys: Proudly Weird Since Forever

Whether we’re hosting a parade for a joke secession, sunbathing on coral, or building railroads straight into the ocean, the Florida Keys have never done things the conventional way. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.

So next time you’re sipping a frozen drink and watching the sun dip into the Gulf, just remember: you’re standing on the land of the first, the only, the delightfully offbeat.

Want more weird and wonderful Keys trivia? Drop a comment, or swing by and let’s talk stories over conch fritters.