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

"Western Union"

Key West's Flagship Schooner

— Sail into History —

"Western Union" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 23, 2024

1. "Western Union" Marker

Inscription.

"Western Union". Key West's Flagship Schooner. "Western Union". Built in the great tradition of the wrecking vessels that were used in Key West in the 1800's, the 130 ft. schooner Western Union has three distinctions., She is I. The last example of a traditional American coasting schooner made in the US. II. The last sailing cable ship on earth. III. The last tall ship constructed in Key West., . Launched here in 1939, she served the Western Union Telegraph Co. reliably for 35 years, had a high stakes espionage run with Cuban gun boats, survived a hurricane, efforts to dismantle her helped bring Cubans to freedom during the Mariel Boatlift, redirected troubled youths in the Vision Quest program and now under the care of Historic Tours of America is finally back home as Flagship of Key West, The Conch Republic, and The State of Florida., . The Western Union was originally built for Thompson Enterprises to lease to the Western Union Telegraph Co. to repair and maintain the company's telegraph cables throughout the Caribbean., . After many years of faithful Service, she did her last cable work in November 1973. She was about to be converted into a barge when Capt John Krause, bead of World Life Explorations bought her and saved her from destruction. She was then chartered for trips in Chesapeake Bay, the Virgin Islands and Florida., . She finally returned home to Key West in early 1980 and was locally chartered for sunset cruises. She arrived home just in time for the Mariel Boatlift in 1980, the exodus of almost 100,000 Cubans from their country and was called into action successfully bringing back over 300 Cuban-refugees for a new life of freedom in the United States., . From 1982 to 1984 she was the focus of a grass-roots effort to keep her in Key West, but the cost to keep her was too great and she was sold., . Local businessmen brought her back to Key West to much fanfare-on February 9, 1997, under the command of her ailing former Captain Dick Steadman. Captain Steadman passed away on May 23, 1997., . Purchased by locally headquartered national historic entertainment company, "Historic Tours of America, Inc.", she was redesignated Flagship of Key West, The Conch Republic, and proudly sails from for old home port, the Key West Bight

"Western Union" Built in the great tradition of the wrecking vessels that were used in Key West in the 1800's, the 130 ft. schooner Western Union has three distinctions.

She is
I. The last example of a traditional American coasting schooner made in the US.
II. The last sailing cable ship on earth.
III. The last tall ship constructed in Key West.

• Launched here in 1939, she served the Western Union Telegraph Co. reliably for 35 years, had a high stakes espionage run with Cuban gun boats, survived a hurricane, efforts to dismantle her helped bring Cubans to freedom during the Mariel Boatlift, redirected troubled youths in the Vision Quest program and now under the care of Historic Tours of America is finally back home as Flagship of Key West, The Conch Republic, and The State of Florida.

• The Western Union was originally built for Thompson Enterprises to lease to the Western Union Telegraph Co. to repair and maintain the company's telegraph cables throughout the Caribbean.

• After many years of faithful Service, she did her last cable work in November 1973. She was about to be converted into a barge when

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Capt John Krause, bead of World Life Explorations bought her and saved her from destruction. She was then chartered for trips in Chesapeake Bay, the Virgin Islands and Florida.

• She finally returned home to Key West in early 1980 and was locally chartered for sunset cruises. She arrived home just in time for the Mariel Boatlift in 1980, the exodus of almost 100,000 Cubans from their country and was called into action successfully bringing back over 300 Cuban-refugees for a new life of freedom in the United States.

• From 1982 to 1984 she was the focus of a grass-roots effort to keep her in Key West, but the cost to keep her was too great and she was sold.

• Local businessmen brought her back to Key West to much fanfare-on February 9, 1997, under the command of her ailing former Captain Dick Steadman. Captain Steadman passed away on May 23, 1997.

• Purchased by locally headquartered national historic entertainment company, "Historic Tours of America, Inc.", she was redesignated Flagship of Key West, The Conch Republic, and proudly sails from for old home port, the Key West Bight

Erected by Historic Tours of America.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 23, 2024

2. "Western Union" Marker

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 24° 33.668′ N, 81° 48.088′ W. Marker is unreadable. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of William Street and Lazy Way, on the right when traveling west on William Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 William St, 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 location: Schooner Western Union (a few steps from this marker); Turtle Kraals Museum (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line);

"Western Union" Marker from when the marker was under the pier gateway sign. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, August 8, 2019

3. "Western Union" Marker from when the marker was under the pier gateway sign.

a different marker also named Turtle Kraals Museum (about 400 feet away); The Red Doors (about 400 feet away); Dade County Pine (about 400 feet away); Pepe’s Café (about 400 feet away); Norberg Thompson (about 400 feet away); Thompson's Fish House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 340 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 19, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on March 5, 2025, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.