Key Largo in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Jewfish Creek Bridge

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 23, 2018

1. Jewfish Creek Bridge Marker

Inscription. A swing span bridge once crossed Jewfish Creek just beyond this location. Early in the construction of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway from the Mainland to Key West, Jewfish Creek was identified as a critical site along the route. In 1905, beginning at the Miami Terminal Docks, a supply line running south transported supplies from Biscayne Bay to Jewfish Creek. To complete the dredge and fill needed to build the railway between Homestead and the Keys, a pair of excavators started from Homestead and moved southwest towards Jewfish Creek, while another pair from Key Largo moved toward them in the opposite direction. By December 9, 1906, tracks from Homestead to Jewfish Creek were completed. The steel deck girder swing span bridge was assembled at the Miami Terminal Docks and was completed in December 1906. The bridge was shipped down the railway for installation at Jewfish Creek, and by early February 1907, it was fully operational. Several railway-related buildings were located at Jewfish Creek, including an agent’s house, telegraph station, and laborers’ houses. The swing bridge was replaced by a bascule bridge in 1944,

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which was replaced by the current bridge in 2008.

Erected 2012 by The Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-747.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is December 9, 1906.

Location. 25° 11.007′ N, 80° 23.203′ W. Marker is in Key Largo, Florida, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of Yacht Club Drive and Overseas Highway (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling north on Yacht Club Drive. Marker is located on Yacht Club Drive which runs parallel and under the US 1 bridge for local access to businesses. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Key Largo FL 33037, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Keys.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what

Jewfish Creek Bridge Marker and US 1 bridge above. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 23, 2018

2. Jewfish Creek Bridge Marker and US 1 bridge above.

was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: African Queen (approx. 6.9 miles away); Tavernier (approx. 14½ miles away).

Original Jewfish Creek Bridge Swing Bridge under construction image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Florida Memory, February 15, 1907

3. Original Jewfish Creek Bridge Swing Bridge under construction

Draw Bridge (2nd bridge) over Jewfish Creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Florida Memory, March 2007

4. Draw Bridge (2nd bridge) over Jewfish Creek

New Jewfish Bridge being constructed image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Florida Memory, February 2007

5. New Jewfish Bridge being constructed

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 815 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 2, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.