Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Cayo Hueso
Key West Art & Historical Society
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay
1. Cayo Hueso Marker
Key West got its name from a combination of cultures and languages. Early Spanish explorers named the island “Cayo Hueso” which translates in English as “Bone Island”. The Tiano of Cuba call a small island “cayo”. The English call it “cay” and the American Colonists called it “Key”. “Hueso”, pronounced as “west”, came from the large deposits of bone on the island. The Spanish also called the island “Oeste” referring to our westerly location. The American interpretation of the words became “Key West”.
Key West Historic Marker
Free Audio Walking Tour
Call: 305 • 507 • 0300
Sponsor: Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources
Erected by Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. (Marker Number 51.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 24° 33.591′ N, 81° 48.451′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of Wall Street and Tifts Street, on the right when traveling north on Wall Street. This marker is listed as
this page online
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 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: Civil War Union Blockade (here, next to this marker); The Mosquito Fleet (a few steps from this marker); Cuban Missile Crisis (a few steps from this marker); Antipiracy Campaign (a few steps from this marker); Second Seminole War (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); Spanish American War (within shouting distance of this marker); World War I (within shouting distance of
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023
2. Cayo Hueso Marker
Also see . . . Key West Art & Historical Society. (Submitted on May 24, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 240 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 2, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2. submitted on May 24, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
