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| U.S. 1 northbound arrives at Key Vaca and the outskirts of Marathon. Marathon, the largest settlement along the Overseas Highway between Key Largo and Key West, began as a railroad depot along the Florida East Coast Railroad. The name replaced Knight's Key on October 1, 1908, and relates to the accelerated or "marathon" speed and longevity of the construction work related in building the railroad west to Key West.3 05/07/06 |
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| The first in a series of traffic lights governs the movements of U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) at 33rd Street. 33rd Street spurs north to a boat ramp on the Florida Bay, while a Florida Highway Patrol station lies on the northeast corner of the intersection with U.S. 1. Meanwhile to the west is Monroe County Road 931 (20th Street), the original Overseas Highway alignment south and east to Boot Key and Sister Creek. 05/07/06 |
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| The disjointed Monroe County Road 931 returns to U.S. 1 via Sombrero Beach Boulevard from Sister Creek and the Tingler Island area. A northbound reassurance marker resides beyond the intersection as the Overseas Highway continues east toward Marathon Airport. 05/07/06 |
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| Traffic lights operate along U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) at both 107th and 109th Streets. Tightly lined streets lie along both sides of the Overseas Highway through much of the Marathon. The town incorporated in 1999 to encompass lands from the east end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the west end of the Toms Harbors Bridge, a distance of approximately 13 miles. This entails Boot, Knight, Hog, Vaca, Stirrup, Crawl, Little Crawl, Deer, Fat Deer, Long Pine, and Grassy Keys and East and West Sister's Islands.4 05/07/06 |
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| Near the Key Vaca Cut bridge is a distance sign including the distances to Layton and Islamorada, two incorporated communities in the upper Keys. The cut separates Vaca and Crawl Keys in Marathon. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 next intersects Sadowski Causeway on Crawl Key Number Two. Sadowski Causeway derives its name from developer Phillip Sadowski, who in the 1950s with John Puto began building the Marathon Shores and Little Venice areas. Sadowski Causeway joins the Overseas Highway with the Key Colony Beach area to the south. Key Colony Beach also developed in the 1950s on Shelter Key. Key Colony incorporated in 1957.3 05/07/06 |
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| Coco Plum Drive intersects U.S. 1 at the final signalized intersection in Marathon to lead south and east from Fat Deer Key to residences along Cocoa Plum Beach. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 enters Curry Hammock State Park on Fat Deer Key. Curry Hammock constitutes stands of mangrove trees and palms along a group of small islands east of the built up area Marathon. 05/07/06 |
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| Overseas Highway travelers leave Grassy Key across Toms Harbor Channel toward Duck Key and Walkers Island. The old U.S. 1 bridge parallels along the south side. 05/07/06 |
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| Northbound at the intersection with Duck Key Drive, the access point to Duck Key. Duck Key lies south of the Overseas Highway at mile marker 61. Bryan W. Newkirk, a financier and mining executive, purchased the island in 1954 for $4 million in an effort to convert Duck Key into a 400 acre island village. In order to fulfill his ambitions, the island was expanded by several acres with fill, and divided into five separate islands (Indies, Centre, Harbour, Plantation and Yacht Club islands) all separated by canals.5 05/07/06 |
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| Continuing east from Duck Key across the Toms Harbor Cut bridge to Walker Island. In 1952, Newkirk saw construction of a wooden bridge between Duck Key and the Overseas Highway. A more permanent causeway opened on January 2, 1953 at a cost of $1 million. Newkirk's development prospered as a resort community and remained in his hands until 1983. Hawk's Cay Village was built on the island in the mid 1990s bringing a total of approximately 400 homes along with a wide array of recreational facilities on the island.5 05/07/06 |
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| A narrow causeway carries U.S. 1 eastward from Walkers Island to Conch Key. Conch Avenue spurs northward into a small residential area on Conch Key (visible to the left in this photo). The 16-acre island was used as a construction camp site during the building of the Florida East Coast Railway. 05/07/06 |
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| The lengthy Long Key Viaduct carries U.S. 1 eastward from Conch Key to Long Key. The original concrete span parallels along the south side. 05/07/06 |
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| Long Key State Park encompasses lands on the western reaches of Long Key. The state park, established on October 1, 1969, provides canoeing, hiking, camping, and fishing for area visitors. Originally a fishing resort called Long Key home, but that was destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. 05/07/06 |
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| Northbound travelers pass through the incorporated city of Layton on Long Key. The community consists of less then ten streets and is home to 204 residents according to 2004 census estimates. Named for Miamans Mary and Del Layton and their local fish camp, the village incorporated on September 18, 1963.6 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 bends southeasterly from Fiesta Key to Craig Key over the Channel No. 5 Bridge. 05/07/06 |
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| Lowering from the Channel No. 5 Bridge onto tiny Craig Key. Craig Key, founded by R.W. Craig in the 1930s as a small fish camp, represents the landfall location where the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935's eye passed. There a record low barometric pressure of 26.35 inches of mercury was recorded. 05/07/06 |
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| Northbound reassurance marker posted at Craig Key. Channel No. 2 separates the small island from Lower Matecumbe Key to the east. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 northbound spans Channel No. 2 ahead of Lower Matecumbe Key at Matecumbe Harbor. Lower Matecumbe was surveyed on November 20, 1872 though the name Matecumbe was used to describe the eastern Keys as far as back as 1571. The first Overseas Highway reached Lower Matecumbe Key in 1928 and ended at a ferry crossing. When it was decided to build a bridge westward to Jewfish Bush, veterans from World War I were commissioned to complete the task. However before they could construct much, the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 struck on September 2, all but destroying their work camps and support structure. All that remained from their initial work are crumbling concrete bridge piers near milepost 73.7 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 leaves Lower Matecumbe Key for a series of bridges and causeways to Upper Matecumbe Key. Overseas Highway first travels across Lignumvitae Channel. South of the channel lies the small Indian Key. The island represents the first settlement in the Florida Keys, when ship salvaging businesses set up shop there in the 1830s.6 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 leaves Lower Matecumbe Key for a series of bridges and causeways to Upper Matecumbe Key. Overseas Highway first travels across Lignumvitae Channel. South of the channel lies the small Indian Key. The island represents the first settlement in the Florida Keys, when ship salvaging businesses set up shop there in the 1830s.8 05/07/06 |
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| A small island of fill carries the Overseas Highway east to the Indian Key Channel bridge from Lignumvitae Channel. Indian Key, Lignumvitae, and Tea Table Channels allow tidal waters to flow between Florida Bay and the Florida Straits. 05/07/06 |
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| Continuing east along the manmade bodies of land toward Upper Matecumbe Key. A causeway joins U.S. 1 with a small private island southwest of Tea Table Relief. U.S. 1 crosses the Tea Table Channel and Relief waterways onto Upper Matecumbe Key otherwise into the heart of Islamorada. Islamorada is the self-proclaimed Sport Fishing Capital of the World, and it entails Plantation, Windley, Upper, and Lower Matecumbe Keys. The community began in 1907 when settler William Krome first platted a subdivision.9 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 gains a center-turn lane through Upper Matecumbe Key. Pictured here is a northbound reassurance marker and distance sign situated along the northbound drive at Islamorada. Just Key Largo remains on the trek to Homestead and Miami. 05/07/06 |
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| Boats congregate in the waters south of Windley Key on a regular basis. The daily "boat party" is part of the tradition of Windley Key and Islamorada. 05/07/06 |
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| The section of original Overseas Highway on Windley Key receives the signing of County Road 905. CR 905 loops south of U.S. 1 behind the Theater of the Sea briefly before returning ahead of the Snake Creek draw bridge. The theater includes a lagoon that was originally a quarry used for the railroad; the quarry became part of a park in 1946. Featured at the Theater of the Sea are marine animals set in salt-water lagoons amongst tropical gardens. Visitors can interact with dolphins, sea lions, and sting rays as part of the park programs. Traffic lights governing the intersection of CR 905 and U.S. 1 were removed some time before these photos was taken. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 travels to the Windley Key Geological State Park, a former coral quarry used in the building of the Florida East Coast Railroad, and then the Snake Creek draw bridge. Closed in the 1960s, the quarry features limestone and fossilized and coral. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 descends from the Snake Creek draw bridge onto Plantation Key. A weigh station resides just east of the span. The original Overseas Highway through Islamorada opened on March 28, 1938 over the original Florida East Coast Railway bed.10 05/07/06 |
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| A set of traffic lights, here flashing caution, are posted at the entrance to Founders Park on Plantation Key. Founders Park consists of a 40-acre conventional park including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, beach, ball fields, and walking path. 05/07/06 |
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| Nearing the north end of Plantation Key and Bessie Road. U.S. 1 curves east toward Tavernier, Rock Harbor, and Key Largo. Native tribes called Plantation Key home as early as 500 and 700 AD. The island later became the grounds for pineapple crops, which gives it its name. The Florida East Coast Railway brought modern settlement to the island with the establishment of coral rock quarries. The island today is home to the Upper Keys only high school, that of the 1951-built Coral Shores School.11 05/07/06 |
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| Traffic lights exist at the five-way intersection of U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) with Bessie Road east, Plantation Avenue west, and Sunshine Boulevard north. CR 905 parallels U.S. 1 closely along the northbound side here. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 reassurance shield posted between the northbound lanes and nearby CR 905 (original Overseas Highway). 05/07/06 |
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| Spanning Tavernier Creek between Plantation Key and the southern reaches of Key Largo. The waterway represents the eastern end of Islamorada. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 enters Tavernier, the community entailing the southern reaches of Key Largo. Originally named Cayo Tabona, or "Horsefly Key", Tavernier appeared on maps in print by 1775 by the British. Tavernier began as the communities of Planter and Lowesport, fueled partly by the pineapple trade with Cuba. The arrival of the Florida East Coast Railroad ushered the growth of Tavernier as a railroad depot in 1908, and the demise of Planter nearby. Tavernier became the post office in 1911.12 05/07/06 |
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| A traffic light slows motorists at the intersection with Ocean Boulevard, a short spur leading east to Lincoln Avenue and Coconut Row. A shopping enter occupies the northwestern corner of the intersection as well. 05/07/06 |
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| The Overseas Highway gains a grassy median through Tavernier, before eventually splitting into a one way street couplet further north. 05/07/06 |
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| Burton Drive veers northeast from U.S. 1 toward Harry Harris Park and residences along Dove Sound. Harry Harris Park lies along the beach and offers conventional park amenities. 05/07/06 |
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| Northbound distance sign posted at the community of Rock Harbor on Key Largo. The origins of Rock Harbor date as far back officially as a railroad depot along Florida East Coast Railway in 1909. The name was applied to the original post office in the area and may relate to the surrounding shallow harbor and its rocky coastline.13 05/07/06 |
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| Traveling northbound near Newport on Key Largo. The split roadways of U.S. 1 converge at the south Key Largo business district. 05/07/06 |
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| Continuing north beyond the signalized intersection with Tarpon Basin Drive. The drive through Key Largo resembles a suburban arterial similar to any other found within the state of Florida. The island itself derives its name because it is the longest island in the Keys. 05/07/06 |
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| An overhead sign directs travelers to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park entrance at Key Largo. The park spreads across 70 nautical miles and entails mangrove swamps, hammocks, and coral reefs. Activities range from glass bottom boat tours aboard the Spirit of Pennekamp, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and more. A 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium also resides within the park. 05/07/06 |
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| Leaving Key Largo, U.S. 1 separates with CR 905. U.S. 1 and CR 905A (Card Sound Road) provide the lone fixed crossings between the Florida Keys and Florida mainland. U.S. 1 provides a direct route to Homestead by way of the Jewfish Creek crossing along Everglades National Park. Card Sound Road leads northwest from CR 905 near Ocean Reef Club to meet U.S. 1 at Florida City. The Card Sound Bridge is tolled. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 narrows to two lanes as it leaves Key Largo. Monroe County Road 905 travels northeast 9.3 miles to CR 905A (Card Sound Road), two miles south of the entrance to Ocean Reef Club. 05/07/06 |
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| U.S. 1 leaves Key Largo formerly along a narrow causeway across Lake Surprise. The lake took early railroad builders by surprise, hence its name.14
2009-completed widening of U.S. 1 between Key Largo and the Jewfish Creek draw bridge replaced the causeway with an elevated two lane viaduct. Roadwork between mile markers 106 and 113 included construction of a fixed high-level bridge at Jewfish Creek. A barrier median separates north and southbound travelers along the new alignment.15 05/07/06 |
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| Historical look at the double-leaf Jewfish Creek Bascule Bridge on U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) north. Built in 1944, the draw bridge was near the end of its life as crews built the new fixed bridge to the east. Rising to a level of 65' upon completion, the bridge replacement project was the first phase of a four-part $148 million improvement project along 18 mile "Stretch" of U.S. 1.15 05/07/06 |
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| The Miami-Dade County line straddles Manatee Creek between Barnes and Long Sounds across U.S. 1. The Overseas Highway follows a narrow strip of land between the two large bodies of water to a small fish camp at the creek. The aforementioned road work project also involved construction of the Manatee Creek Bridge and wildlife box culvert crossings. All bridge work was completed by 2009.15 05/07/06 |
Page Updated 07-02-2014.
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