Hospital Key
Hospital Key was named for the small hospital that was built there to treat prisoners housed on Garden Key's Fort Jefferson.
Plan Around Hospital Key
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Hospital Key Details
Hospital Key lies to the Northeast of Garden Key and is named named for the small hospital that was built there to treat prisoners housed in Fort Jefferson. Use your kayak or canoe to paddle over to the island. An 1860 epidemic of yellow fever amongst Fort Jefferson's prison population resulted in Hospital Key being used as an isolation point to try to stem the sickness. Samuel Mudd, alleged conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and then Fort Jefferson prisoner, assumed the role of doctor during the epidemic and helped to save the prison population and soldiers.
Difficulty
Open
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N/A
Estimated time
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Nearby Parks Around Hospital Key
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Hospital Key
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1.7 mi away
Historic Coaling Pier Pilings
An excellent diving and snorkeling site, the Coaling Pier Pilings attract large grouper, tarpon, barracudas and sharks.
1.7 mi away
North and South Coaling Docks
The U.S. Navy built two coal docks to resupply its shippings at the end of the 19th century.
1.8 mi away
Seawall and Moat Wall
A seawall was built around Fort Jefferson to protect it from assault and rough ocean waters.
1.8 mi away
Harbor Light
NPS still operates the beacon of this 1876 iron lighthouse.
