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

Captain Edward "Bra" Saunders

1874-1949

— Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden —

Captain Edward "Bra" Saunders Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. Captain Edward "Bra" Saunders Marker

Inscription. Born in Key West, a Conch, "Bra" Saunders began his career as a commercial fisherman. As the demand for sport-fishing guides increased, he became a charter boat fisherman. In the 1930's he was fishing guide for Ernest Hemingway, taking him and his “gang" fishing to the waters around the Dry Tortugas. Captain “Bra” by teaching Hemingway saltwater fishing, was instrumental in international publicity for Key West fishing. In addition to being a fisherman, Captain Saunders was an expert boat handler and navigator who knew the waters of the Florida Keys, from Miami to the Dry Tortugas like the back of his hand. Hemingway was to use Captain Eddie "Bra" Saunders in his Key West novel To Have and Have Not as Captain Willie Adams, “ an old man in a felt hat and windbreaker." He also provided Hemingway the story of the sinking of the Spanish liner Valbanera during the 1919 hurricane Hemingway used the story in his article “After the Storm.” When the 1935 hurricane devastated the upper Keys, Captain Saunders used his skills to take Hemingway to the scene of the disaster which resulted in his article “Who Killed the Vets?” Captain

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

"Bra” Saunders was one of the men who would make sportfishing a major industry in the Keys. One book described Saunders as “Old Bra knows the peculiarities of all the finny tribe in the salty sea. He is probably more at home among them than on shore with the boy’s.” Donated by
T.I.B. Bank of the Keys

Erected by T.I.B. Bank of the Keys.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Sports • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 24° 33.587′ N, 81° 48.412′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from the intersection of Wall Street and Tift’s Aly. The marker is located within the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Wall Street, Key West FL 33040, 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,

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. Captain Edward "Bra" Saunders Marker

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Watson Simonton (here, next to this marker); Carlos Manuel De Cespedes y Cespedes (here, next to this marker); John Lowe, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Elisabetha Merklin Knight Beiglett Smith (here, next to this marker); Peter Roberts (here, next to this marker); Livingston Wellesley Bethel (here, next to this marker); Maria Valdez Gutsens (here, next to this marker); Ellen Russell Mallory (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . .
1. History on the Trail of Ernest Hemingway. (Submitted on May 18, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. The Key West Sculpture Garden – Where History Meets Art. (Submitted on May 18, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,003 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.