Do you have that one weird relative who loves to wander around old cemeteries in every town you visit? “Huh, look at this! Ol’ Howard died in 1899! That’s a long time ago! Bet he’d have liked to make it one more year!”
Perhaps you ARE the relative who likes to walk around old cemeteries.
Well, I have great news for you and your relatives! The cemetery in Key West, Florida, is a fun-filled adventure in walking around an old cemetery. It’s so interesting that you can even bring your surly teenagers with you. They’ll enjoy it too, since there is solid 5G coverage for their devices, enabling them to ignore you while you read out epitaphs.
Jokes aside, the cemetery really is a highlight — one of those unique things to do in Key West that’s not like anywhere else.
Why Visit the Cemetery in Key West?
While most cemeteries are in dusty old churchyards, the island’s is in the middle of town. Key West is a small place, and the one cemetery served as the final resting place for everyone who lived on the island for many years. According to the city website, you’ll find Catholics, Protestants, and Jews buried side-by-side, from all walks of life. There were some of the original Bahamian settlers, cigar makers from Cuba, and soldiers and vets from various wars.
The cemetery was founded in 1847. It replaced an even older cemetery that had to be relocated. The Keys are low-lying and flood with every hurricane, so the area chosen was some of the highest natural elevation available — 16 feet above sea level. Be sure to pack some tissues in case of nose bleeds.
The cemetery is still active today, with about 100 fresh corpses going into the ground every year. In total, the city claims that between 80,000 and 100,000 people are interred here. That makes it the city’s biggest neighborhood, since only about 30,000 people live on the island. Like any big city, further expansion requires vertical thinking — most new graves are now in above-ground.
Famous Key West People in Life and Death and Noteworthy Sites
One of the centerpieces is a memorial to the sailors on the USS Maine. What’s that, your US history class was a long time ago? The USS Maine was a US Navy battleship sunk in Havana Harbor in 1898 — an event that precipitated the Spanish-American War. You know, that war you completely forgot about from history class. But if you were in Key West at the turn of the 20th century, it was a big deal. Two hundred sixty-eight sailors died on the ship, of which 24 or so are buried in the Key West cemetery.
There’s also a monument to Los Martires de Cuba, a memorial for folks who fought for Cuban independence from Spain during the Ten Years’ War.
There are other well-known folks buried here, too. “Sloppy” Joe Russell is buried here; you might have had a drink in his famous and best Key West bar. Another grave, marked by a giant statue of a conch shell (just like the Key West flag), belongs to none other than the Secretary General of the Conch Republic, Sir Peter Anderson. There are also a lot of names you might recognize from local streets, parks, and monuments — folks who were instrumental in one way or another to the history of Key West.
But some of the folks here only gained notoriety after their passing by sharing their unique Key West sense of humor with the world. Here are a couple of grave markers to keep your eyes peeled for:
“I told you I was sick.”
“I’m just resting my eyes.”
“If you’re reading this, you desperately need a hobby.”
“I always dreamed of owning a small place in Key West.”
“So long, and thanks for all the fish.”
“Jesus Christ, these people are horrible.”
Key West Ghost Stories
No old cemetery would be complete without dead bodies and a ghost or two. Around the Key West cemetery, locals tell tales of a Bahamian woman buried here. She likes to keep her eye on the place, and she “visits” anyone whom she believes is being disrespectful to the graves.
So watch where you step, and certainly don’t lounge on any headstones.
If ghosts are your thing, check out the ghost walks offered by local tour companies. And, even without ghost stories, the cemetery is often high on the list of many of the best walking tours in Key West — it’s even a stop on the Conch Train tour!
How to Visit the Historic Key West Cemetery
The main gate to the cemetery (cue creepy music and a squeaky gate sound effect) is located at the corner of Angela and Margaret Streets. You can download a walking tour map from the Historic Florida Keys Foundation. The foundation also occasionally offers guided walking tours; check their site for details.
Tips for Visiting the Key West City Cemetery
Go in the morning or evening — there’s not much shade and it gets pretty hot in the middle of the day.
Keep on the look out for wildlife. Like any greenspace in town, you’re more likely than not to see a bird or two. You might even catch a glimpse of the Key West chickens!
Don’t forget to download the walking tour map before you go! There might be some at the gate, but it’s easy to find online if they’re out.
There are a few other noteworthy sites in town you might want to look into, as well. There are the East and West Martello Tower monuments near present day Higgs Beach, plus the African Cemetery in the same area.
Be ready to grab a bite afterwards — favoring the best restaurants in Key West with strong air conditioning!
Finish up your Key West vacation by heading out to the sandbars! Our sandbar excursions provide you a worry-free way to get out on the water and experience Key West’s best beaches.
