Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park Dry Tortugas National Park Official page Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park.
(305)

Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, its legends of pirates and sunken gold, and its military past.

🧱 Walk through time under the Fort Jefferson archways. 🧱Fort Jefferson is the largest all-masonry fort in the country. I...
09/28/2026

🧱 Walk through time under the Fort Jefferson archways. 🧱

Fort Jefferson is the largest all-masonry fort in the country. Its construction began in 1846 with the original design to protect the anchorage of military vessels patrolling gulf shipping lanes. The fort provided these warships a place to resupply and seek safety from storms, allowing them to maintain strength in the area without leaving their post.

The fort's use changed over the years. During the Civil War, Union warships used the harbor to block Southern shipping. It then became used as a prison, holding the famous Dr. Samuel Mudd in the 1860s. Over time, it was repurposed into a quarantine facility, coaling station, and a number of other military and government uses.

In 1874, the fort was abandoned by the army. Construction on the fort ended in 1875 without it ever being fully finished. Fort Jefferson was named a National Monument in 1935 and redesignated as part of Dry Tortugas National Park in 1992.

Fort Jefferson's archways hold up generations of history. Learn more about its story at https://www.nps.gov/drto/learn/historyculture/fort-jefferson.htm.

NPS photo / Brandon Cintron Gerena

09/23/2026

We needed a lift!

How do you get something into Fort Jefferson if it's too big to fit through the front door? Skip the door and go over the walls.

Using a 1960s helicopter, contractors helped park staff move a wastewater treatment tank into Fort Jefferson. This lift was part of an ongoing infrastructure project that will help the park stay open and accessible for years to come. If you've visited recently and wondered why there was a trench in the parade ground, it's for this wastewater project.

Thank you, staff and visitors, for following safety guidelines during the operation. Did you get to see the helicopter on your visit?

NPS video / Mark Vadas & Houston

I'm Okay! That's what this overhead gesture conveys to the team back on the boat.Several employees at Dry Tortugas Natio...
09/14/2026

I'm Okay!

That's what this overhead gesture conveys to the team back on the boat.

Several employees at Dry Tortugas National Park are receiving intensive training on boat operations as a part of the DOI's Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC). The training program seeks to provide more hands-on experience for vessel operators in the service.

Training includes modules focusing on communication, risk management, rescue and survival, vessel maintenance, firefighting, boat handling, and marlinespike seamanship. Practical exercises include fire suppression, use of visual distress signals, in-water survival skills, and lots of boat handling. MOCC instructors are currently working with park staff to get new hires qualified and prepared to safely operate vessels throughout the park.

Raise your hand if you knew what marlinespike seamanship meant. 🪢

Learn more about water vessel safety at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/healthandsafety/water-vessel-safety.htm.

NPS Photos

Can’t wait to see visitors arriving on this new catamaran!
09/10/2026

Can’t wait to see visitors arriving on this new catamaran!

The weather at Dry Tortugas might look clear now, but with the Atlantic Hurricane Season at its peak, the park is prepar...
09/10/2026

The weather at Dry Tortugas might look clear now, but with the Atlantic Hurricane Season at its peak, the park is prepared to respond to any potential storms.

If you plan on visiting this time of year, make sure to keep an eye on the weather before your trip begins and confirm any reservation details directly with their providers. In the case of bad weather closure, information will be posted on the park's Alerts and Conditions page at https://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

NPS Photo / Sabrina Diaz

National Park Week doesn't have to end, does it?You can learn about and explore your National Parks any time with the NP...
09/01/2026

National Park Week doesn't have to end, does it?

You can learn about and explore your National Parks any time with the NPS App. Using the app, you can check current conditions and alerts, find directions, browse things to do, and learn more about what makes each park special.

Thank you to all of the visitors that joined us in the park and online in the comments last week. It was so heartwarming to hear your favorite memories at Dry Tortugas. Continue to follow along to learn more about what's happening in your park year-round.

Download the NPS App to keep exploring: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm

NPS Graphic by Brandon Cintron Gerena

For a park with two lighthouses, the staff sure is in the spotlight! 🔦This National Park Week, we can't forget who makes...
08/29/2026

For a park with two lighthouses, the staff sure is in the spotlight! 🔦

This National Park Week, we can't forget who makes every excursion to Dry Tortugas worth it. From ensuring the park is maintained to sharing stories and memories with visitors, the staff makes Dry Tortugas bright.

If you're visiting the park today, make sure to tell the staff at Dry Tortugas thank you!

NPS Photos

Can you spot the differences? Take a look around this "Then & Now" photo history tour. 📸🖼️The initial architectural plan...
08/28/2026

Can you spot the differences? Take a look around this "Then & Now" photo history tour. 📸🖼️

The initial architectural plans for Fort Jefferson backdrop scenes in time, in which we compare and contrast how the islands have changed since these initial drafts. By partnering images from the past with images of the same locations today, we remember and honor scenes from American history at Dry Tortugas National Park.

Some photos highlight great differences in time. For example, the contrast of a canvas tent from 1898 next to today's bright, synthetic tents. The moat wall visitor photos also point out changes in tourist attire since 1899. However, some images from today remain similar to how they once appeared. The 1950 cannon and the 1898 parade magazine have persevered through time.

Each pairing, alike or different after years of wind and sun, tells the story of preservation at Dry Tortugas National Park. Time makes its changes, but we continue to care for park resources to ensure they remain a part of America's ongoing story.

If you're interested in the history of the park, please visit https://www.nps.gov/drto/learn/historyculture/index.htm to learn more.

NPS Photos
NPS Graphic / Houston

Hope to see you there!
08/27/2026

Hope to see you there!

The power of partnerSHIP wins again! 🛥️Fort Jefferson's location was initially chosen as a landmark along popular ship r...
08/27/2026

The power of partnerSHIP wins again! 🛥️

Fort Jefferson's location was initially chosen as a landmark along popular ship routes through the Gulf. Today, it's location still offers ships an operational waypoint in these waters along with a boost of morale.

Dry Tortugas National Park receives regular operational, recreational, and training visits from multiple U.S. Coast Guard vessels and aircraft throughout the region.

These partnership visits turn typical operational check-ins into opportunities for collaboration. Partners lean on the staff at Dry Tortugas for guidance on safe anchorage, visitor access, swim zones, fishing rules, and navigation requirements. Likewise, Dry Tortugas staff have the chance to board vessels and provide tours of the park.

At the remote Dry Tortugas National Park, where both park staff and vessel crews are leagues away from home, these hospitable interactions are embraced with enthusiasm all around.

Thank you to all of our partners at U.S. Coast Guard, MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the continued collaboration and friendship.

NPS photo

Address

Almost 70 Miles West Off The Coast Of Key West
Key West, FL
33040

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dry Tortugas National Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share