The Islands were first discovered by Spaniard Ponce De Leon in 1513. First named Las Tortugas (The Turtles) due to the abundance of sea turtles. The word 'Dry' was soon added to mariners' charts to warn of the lack of fresh water. The first construction on Garden Key, in 1825, was a lighthouse to warn sailors of rocky shoals. Construction of Fort Jefferson began in 1846. The United States knew it could control navigation to the Gulf of Mexico and protect Atlantic bound Mississippi River trade by fortifying the Tortugas. Construction continued for over 30 years but the Fort, which covers 11 of the key's 16 acres, was never finished. During the Civil War the fort was a military prison for captured deserters. It also held the 4 men convicted of complicity in President Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865, the most famous being Dr. Samuel Mudd. The Fort was plagued with construction problems and Yellow Fever epidemics. The invention of the rifled cannon made the Fort obsolete, as it's thick walls could now be penetrated. The Army finally abandoned Fort Jefferson in 1874. In 1908 the area became a wildlife refuge to protect nesting birds from egg collectors. In 1935 Fort Jefferson was proclaimed as a National Monument but it was not until 1992 that Dry Tortugas reached it's current status as a National Park. There is now a self guided tour of the Fort set up by the National Park Service, tour time is approx. 45 minutes.

There is no more exciting or convenient way to reach the Dry Tortugas. In our seaplanes everyone gets a window seat and with your pilot as your personal tour guide it is a low altitude (500 feet) sight-seeing flight you will never forget. Flying over the shallow Gulf waters you will spot sharks, rays, porpoise and huge sea turtles. We also fly over Mel Fisher's treasure sights of the Spanish Galleons the Atocha and Margarita. After circling the fort we make a smooth water landing, beach the airplane and you will be free to enjoy the delights of the Dry Tortugas. Bring along your camera, the photography is spectacular. Flight time is approximately 35 minutes each way.