Visting Dry Tortugas National Park

Where in the world is Dry Tortugas National Park, and how did such a beautiful place get such an odd name? About 70 statute miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas is a group of tiny islands known for the abundant sea life, including sea turtles. A portion of its unique name is explained by the fact that the Spanish word for turtles is tortugas.

But what makes it dry, given that Dry Tortugas Park is surrounded by the waters of the crystal clear blue Caribbean? The name was derived from the Spaniards – when they settled the islets, they soon discovered that there were no fresh water springs. So the islands came eventually to be called the Dry Tortugas, or “dry turtles.” Even now, because the islets are a popular tourist destination, visitors must bring their own water.

First named a National Monument in 1935 by FDR, Dry Tortugas was designated a national park in 1992 at the end of George H. W. Bush’s term. The home of the previously unfinished Civil War era Fort Jefferson, a brick structure later used as a prison to house accused conspirators in President Lincoln’s assassination, the strip of sandy beaches and shallow, colorful reefs has become a destination for 80,000 tourists each year. All leave in amazement at the intriguing history of the former based originally conceived as a defense against — you guessed it — the (real) pirates of the Caribbean.

Visitors to Dry Tortugas can enjoy a large array of activities, from educational tours of Ft. Jefferson, to lazy days on the beach, to spectacular wildlife snorkel tours of the corral reef.

Of course, visitors can only arrive by chartered boat of sea plane. So if you want to book a trip, a Dry Tortugas charter will be necessary. There are some great discounts available on Dry Tortugas charters, Key West hotels, Key West snorkeling, and other recreation packages at Gold Card Key West.

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