Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote group of seven small islands about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, surrounded by clear blue ocean and coral reefs. You can only get there by boat or seaplane, and the park is famous for a giant old brick fort called Fort Jefferson that sits right on the water.
People love Dry Tortugas because it feels like a hidden treasure island, with some of the clearest water and best snorkeling in all of Florida. The huge historic fort, the colorful fish and coral, and the thousands of seabirds make it a magical place that very few visitors ever get to see.
Fort Jefferson
Fort Jefferson is a massive six-sided brick fort built in the 1800s to protect ships in the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the Americas, made of more than 16 million bricks, and you can walk along its walls and look out over the sea.
Snorkeling and Coral Reefs
The warm, shallow water around the fort is full of living coral reefs where you can snorkel right off the beach. Swimmers see colorful fish, sea fans, lobsters, and sometimes sea turtles gliding through the clear water.
Sea Turtles
The park's name Tortugas is the Spanish word for turtles, given by explorers who found many of them here long ago. Green and loggerhead sea turtles still swim in these waters and lay their eggs on the sandy beaches in summer.
Seabirds
Dry Tortugas is one of the most important places in North America for seabirds, and thousands gather here every spring. Nearby Bush Key fills with sooty terns and brown noddies, while frigatebirds with long black wings soar overhead.
Getting There by Boat or Seaplane
Because the park is so far out to sea, there are no roads and you must arrive by ferry boat or seaplane from Key West. The seaplane ride gives an amazing view of the fort and the bright turquoise water from above.
Weather and Ocean
Dry Tortugas is warm and sunny most of the year, with gentle sea breezes and water that stays comfortable for swimming. The islands get very little rain, which is why they are called Dry, and the calm shallow sea is a beautiful shade of blue-green.
History and a Famous Prisoner
Long ago Fort Jefferson was also used as a military prison, and its most famous prisoner was Dr. Samuel Mudd. Today the old fort is a museum you can explore, with dark stairways, cannons, and rooms that tell stories from over 150 years ago.