- State: FL
- NPCA Region: Sun Coast
- Est. Date: 1935
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This park protects seven small islands 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, and the ocean waters that surround them. These islands change constantly from the effects of tides, weather, air, and other environmental and human factors. On Garden Key, visitors can tour the largest all-masonry fort in the United States, built between 1846 and 1875 to defend the Gulf of Mexico, but never completed. The park is also renowned for its vibrant coral, lush seagrass, and migratory birds.
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Press Release
Park Advocates, Community Leaders Applaud Release of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Restoration Blueprint
Bordering three iconic national parks, Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world.
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Blog Post
5 Reasons We Need to Save Our Coral Reefs
Coral reefs help our oceans’ teeming biodiversity survive the impacts of climate change. They also protect communities from severe storms and hurricanes. What happens to corals when 40% of the…
My Park Story
Greetings from Dry Tortugas National Park
Jonathan and I took a moment in January to enjoy the view from atop Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park off of Key West, Florida. As a specialist in fearing heights, I had to be coaxed to this point by another traveler .... the great thing about a big…
More about Dry Tortugas
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Read more about Florida National Parks Polling
Report Florida National Parks Polling A new poll from the Business and Economics Polling Initiative at Florida Atlantic University and NPCA confirms Floridians’ exceptional support for national parks, Everglades restoration, and climate change solutions.
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Read more about Civil War-Era Cemetery and Hospital Found Under Water
Blog Post Civil War-Era Cemetery and Hospital Found Under Water A small, long-submerged island is revealing Civil War mysteries in Dry Tortugas National Park. The National Park Service is conducting an in-depth survey to learn more.
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Read more about The Little Jewel Box
Podcast Episode The Little Jewel Box Winter can be an ideal time to travel. These 5 stories offer inspiration to put on a coat and explore.
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Read more about A Disastrous Time for National Parks: Congress Must Act Fast To Rebuild Them Stronger
Storymap A Disastrous Time for National Parks: Congress Must Act Fast To Rebuild Them Stronger In recent years, we’ve witnessed record floods, severe and more frequent storms and hurricanes destroy communities, shutting down businesses and ripping through our parks and the landscapes, wildlife and life-changing experiences they hold. Take a deeper dive to see the devastation of these disasters and what you can do to help.
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Read more about Building Resiliency Against Disasters
Blog Post Building Resiliency Against Disasters Hurricanes and other disasters are harming our parks. NPCA is advocating for more resources to help staff prepare before emergencies strike.
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Read more about Coral Calamity
Magazine Article Coral Calamity A disease is wreaking havoc on coral colonies in Dry Tortugas and beyond. But hope is on the horizon.
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Read more about Marine Programs in the Sun Coast Region
Resource Marine Programs in the Sun Coast Region NPCA’s Sun Coast Region approaches our marine work with an eye toward ecosystem conservation, restoration and resilience. We work strategically to identify, assess and proactively address the evolving threats to marine ecosystems and all species and resources within them.
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Read more about Climate Change and Florida’s National Parks
Resource Climate Change and Florida’s National Parks Florida is among the most climate change-threatened states in the United States. Florida’s treasured national parks—spanning the Greater Everglades ecosystem northward into Gulf Islands National Seashore and beyond—are being impacted by our changing climate.
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Read more about Call of Duty
Magazine Article Call of Duty For nearly 50 years, Lt. Col. Cheeseman and his troops have been a mainstay at Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, where they have fixed up everything from a rusted iron lighthouse to leaky toilets.
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Read more about 5 Sharks You'll Want to Meet — from a Distance — at National Parks
Blog Post 5 Sharks You'll Want to Meet — from a Distance — at National Parks Just in time for Shark Week: Learn about some of the most majestic and fascinating wildlife at our coastal parks.
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Read more about The Imprisoned Doctor Who Helped Fight an Epidemic
Blog Post The Imprisoned Doctor Who Helped Fight an Epidemic A country doctor convicted in the plot to assassinate President Lincoln earned a pardon by treating an outbreak in his prison, which is now part of a national park.
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Read more about 7 National Park Sites That Tell the Story of Immigration
Blog Post 7 National Park Sites That Tell the Story of Immigration From Castle Clinton National Monument to Golden Gate National Recreation Area, national park sites explore the stark contrasts of the immigrant experience.
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Read more about Zinke Must Use Florida Trip to Call for Relief Funding for National Parks
Press Release Zinke Must Use Florida Trip to Call for Relief Funding for National Parks His visit comes at a critical time as the administration prepares their proposal to Congress to provide needed funding relief to devastated communities.
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Read more about What Lies Beneath
Magazine Article What Lies Beneath Want to find hidden treasures in the ocean or scuba dive through a shipwreck? The Submerged Resources Center is here to help.
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Read more about Tuzi ... What? The Origins of 12 Unusual National Park Names
Blog Post Tuzi ... What? The Origins of 12 Unusual National Park Names Tuzigoot. Great Egg Harbor. Yosemite. Who came up with these names? What do they mean? Sometimes they come from one person, sometimes a whole culture—but the stories behind these memorable monikers reveal interesting details about these places and the people who have loved and lived in them.
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