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

Civil War Union Blockade

Circa 1861

Ken Lund via Flicker (CC BY-SA 2.0), April 23, 2021

1. Civil War Union Blockade Marker

Inscription. Following President Lincoln's order for a naval blockade of Confederate ports in 1861, the U.S. Navy established the East Gulf Blockading Squadron based at Fort Jefferson, Fort Taylor, and the port of Key West. The squadron's area of operations stretched from Cape Canaveral to Pensacola. More than 1,500 blockade runners' ships were intercepted from 1861 thru 1865. Many historians believe Key West's strategic location and the squadron's success in blockading southern ports severely reduced Confederate supply lines and shortened the duration of the Civil War.

Erected by Florida Department of State - Division of Historical Resources. (Marker Number 47.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 24° 33.59′ N, 81° 48.447′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from Wall Street. Marker is on the brick decorative wall with arches in Mallory Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 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,

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: Cayo Hueso (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

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(a few steps from this marker); Second Seminole War (a few steps from this marker); Civil War (a few steps from this marker); Spanish American War (a few steps from this marker); World War I (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . .
1. Civil War Union Blockade. More details about Key West's role in enforcing the blockade. (Key West Historic Marker Tour) (Submitted on February 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Key West and the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. With no major ports within its jurisdiction, the East Gulf Squadron was a low priority for the Union. Sailors considered it a "backwater" assignment because of the constant threat of yellow fever and malaria. (Seaman Rob, The Civil War Navy Sesquicentennial blog, posted Jan. 13, 2012) (Submitted on February 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Key West During the Civil War. Historian Tom Hambright discusses Key West's days as the only Southern city to remain in Union hands throughout the Civil War. (Key

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. Civil War Union Blockade Marker

West Public Library, uploaded Oct. 9, 2020) (Submitted on February 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 487 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on May 2, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. Photos: 1. submitted on February 21, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on May 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.