You might not immediately think of adding a cemetery to your To-Do list when you visit Key West. However, this above ground cemetery is equal parts creepy and utterly fascinating. Not to mention filled with a unique history and spectacular stories. Once you learn more about the Key West Cemetery, you’ll want to spend some time wandering through the historical grounds.
One of the quirkiest and most colorful cemeteries in Florida happens to be the above-ground cemetery in Key West.
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Free to enter and an exciting stopover on your way to the end of the state, you’ll enjoy the history and stories that fill this special graveyard.
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The Key West Cemetery is at the heart of Old Town, which is halfway between the Historic Key West Seaport and West Martello Tower.
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If you stop at the small office within the cemetery, you’ll be able to snag a walking tour guide which is free, giving you proper insight into this fascinating place.
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The cemetery itself was founded in 1847 after a hurricane washed away the old cemetery, and ended up scattering the bodies throughout a forest.
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The oldest gravestones are built on the higher point in Key West, which actually happen to be older than the cemetery, dating back to the 1820s.
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The majority of the graves are above-ground due to the high water table.
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You’ll find a variety of historical gravesides from those killed in the Havana Harbor aboard the U.S.S. Maine to the Cuban revolutionaries who fought and died in 1868.
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You might even come across the grave of Sloppy Joe Russell, who was Ernest Hemingway’s fishing guide, not to mention a famous Key West bartender.
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Spend an afternoon wandering around the cemetery and learning about the spectacular history that Key West holds.
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The address for Key West Cemetery is 701 Pauline Street, Key West, FL 33040.
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Have you ever been to the cemetery before? Share with us your experience in the comments section!
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