Murder, Money and Margaritas: A Key West Cemetery Tour
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About the Tour
About the Tour
The Key West Cemetery is one of the most unique graveyards in the USA, filled with the intriguing characters that shaped the island‘s bohemian past.
On this walking tour with Frank Everhart, a Key West resident of almost 30 years, you‘ll hear the stories of legendary figures, millionaires, and entire families. The secrets behind the island‘s most beloved and captivating spots will also be revealed.
As you walk through the crumbling graves, you‘ll see the scrappy descendants of Cuban cockfighting roosters, and the hundreds of sun-bleached iguanas that live under tombstones. You‘ll also hear first-hand accounts of the hurricane of 1846, the history of the FreeMasons, the memorial of the USS Maine victims whose death marked the start of the Spanish American War, and the outrageous characters that shaped the island we know today.
This 75-minute tour starts at the cemetery‘s main entrance on the corner of Margaret and Angela streets, and near the USS Maine Memorial. As you walk towards the other end where you‘ll find the Jewish B‘Nai Zion Cemetery, you‘ll learn how to decipher the symbols on the gravestones from cherubs to lambs.
On this tour, you‘ll have a chance to:
- Pay your respects to the family from which the Key West Sunset Celebration in Mallory Square is named after
- Get to know Captain Outrageous and his colorful contributions to the pop art style still seen around Key West today
- Hear stories about the Mansion on the Sea and it‘s ties to Thomas Edison and Al Capone
- Visit the oldest still intact gravestone in the cemetery that‘s almost 200 years old
- Become familiar with some of the colorful characters that called Key West home including the larger-than-life (and only 40 inches tall) General Abraham ”Abe” Sawyer and B. P. “Pearl” Roberts, the local hypochondriac
- Learn how Rum Runners used to hide their liquor in a place you would never suspect
- Say a final farewell to Joe Russell, the infamous friend of Ernest Hemingway and founder of Sloppy Joes on Duval Street
- Find out why the graves seem to be sinking into the earth
- Be cautioned by the story of Austin and Tina Griffin, a couple who now rest eternally side by side despite Austin‘s intentions
So join Frank on this stroll among the dead who brought Key West to life!
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Island Audio Tours
My name is Josh Koerpel, and I started Island Audio Tours in 2023 as my goal was to 'reinvent' the concept of the traditional audio tour.
There are so many interesting people and places in Key West, 1000 tours wouldn't cover them all.
But I'm going to try!
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Mi nombre es Josh Koerpel, y comencé Island Audio Tours en 2023 porque mi objetivo era 'reinventar' el concepto del tour de audio tradicional.
Hay tantas personas y lugares interesantes en Key West, que mil tours no podrían abarcarlos todos.
Pero voy a intentarlo!
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Je m'appelle Josh Koerpel, et j'ai lancé Island Audio Tours en 2023 car mon but était de 'réinventer' le concept de la visite audio traditionnelle.
Il y a tellement de personnes et de lieux intéressants à Key West, que mille tours ne pourraient pas tous les couvrir.
Mais je vais essayer!
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 6
"General" Abe Sawyer & William Von Pfister
On your right, you’ll see two, low-to-the-ground white grave markers with the name “Sawyer” carved into them.
They lie on the ground just after a stacked box monument and before the iron fence that sits under a large tree.
Looking at these 2 graves... Read More
View locations and route
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Key West Cemetery
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B’Nai Zion Cemetery
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location701 Passover Ln, Key West, FL 33040, USA
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Total distance1km
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Final location701 Passover Ln, Key West, FL 33040, USA
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Distance back to start location138.01m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins at the main gates of the Cemetery, located on the corner of Margaret and Angela streets. As soon as you enter the cemetery through these gates, the tour will start.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Before or after your tour, if you are in the mood for a cold drink, Kava Culture of Key West is a great place and close to the cemetery entrance. It's on the corner of Fleming and Margaret streets and is open from 8am to 2am daily.
Additionally, just across the street from Kava Culture is a small organic restaurant called Date & Thyme that serves incredible food until 2pm. I highly recommend the breakfast plate!
Best time of day
From 7am to 7pm daily. However the best time is early morning or towards dusk, when the sun is lower in the sky and the air temperature is cooler. The photos are better during these times, too!
In the mornings, you'll see more chickens and roosters, as opposed to mid-day, where you will see more iguanas sunning themselves on the gravestones.
Precautions
The cemetery can get fairly hot in the middle of the day, with only limited shade from palm trees scattered around the grounds. It's best to bring a bottle of water and some sunscreen. It's respectful to not walk on top of any gravesites or take anything off the graves and home with you...besides you always run the risk of an angry spirit tagging along with your new souvenir!
The gates of the cemetery close promptly and are locked, so make sure you double check closing times to ensure you're not locked in for the night. When the cemetery is open, there are restrooms located in the office.
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Questions and Reviews
Questions and Reviews
