Spanish Treasure Along Florida Coast

Above, shipwreck artifacts savaged displayed at the Key West
Shipwreck Treasures Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before Florida became a state, ship disasters took place along the Florida eastern coast involving Spanish treasure ships en route from Cuba to Spain when hurricanes hit.

To this day, treasures wash up on shore and are found by beachcombers.

Disasters would happen even into the 1800s. There is an interesting shipwreck museum in Key West with artifacts for those eras.

Above, a silver bar from a 1656 shipwreck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Citrus County Chronicle has an interesting article on Spanish treasures that found their way onto the ocean floor.

They begin it with:

In Havana, Cuba, July 1715, 11 Spanish treasure ships and one French warship were preparing to sail to Spain carrying over 15 million pesos in gold and silver. King Philip V of Spain relied on the riches of the new world to pay the bills and was in dire need of the money.

The route was the same one taken for over 100 years. The fleet catches the Gulf Stream north of Cuba, sails north along Florida’s east coast, then turns eastward across the Atlantic Ocean to Spain.

Lacking the Weather Channel, the admiral of the fleet was unaware of a hurricane brewing in the Atlantic, planning a rendezvous with the ships off the eastern coast of Florida. A major maritime disaster was imminent.

Above, the Reap The Wild Wind movie display at the Key West
Shipwreck Treasures Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum, there is a display of Reap The Wild Wind movie memorabila. The movie was about shipwreck salvors starring John Wayne, Ray Milland and Paulette Goddard.

To read more, go here. 

12 Major Mistakes To Avoid On A Florida Vacation

Above, there's plenty to see along with restaurants and drinking establishments in Key West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My first visit to Florida was almost two years ago when a friend and I took a five-day cruise to Key West and, from there, to Havana, Cuba from Fort Lauderdale. I had a great time and was planning on a return to Key West last year when the pandemic hit, thereby cancelling those plans.

Travel + Leisure has an article on 12 major mistakes to avoid on a Florida vacation.

They begin with:

You don’t have to be a travel expert to plan a trip to Florida, but there are some insider tips to know before embarking on a vacation to the Sunshine State. For starters, Florida isn’t all beaches and theme parks, though there’s nothing wrong with hitting both of those spots during your getaway. As a lifelong resident, I've picked up a few tricks along the way. Read on for 12 mistakes to avoid on your next Florida vacation.

Above, Reap The Wild Wind movie display at the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 Mistake No. 10 in the article is skipping the Florida Keys. I have to agree.

To read more, go here. 

Key West Shipwreck Museum

Above, inside the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While in Key West, Florida last week, one of the things I did was to check out the Key West Shipwreck Museum.

In a nutshell, here's what Wikipedia says about the museum:

The Key West Shipwreck Museum is located in Key West, Florida, United States. It combines actors, films and actual artifacts to tell the story of 400 years of shipwreck salvage in the Florida Keys. The museum itself is a re-creation of a 19th-century warehouse built by wrecker tycoon Asa Tift.

Above, salvaged artifacts. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After paying admission and going inside, guests are treated to a video on shipwrecks and salvage operations in the Florida Keys. It is an interesting film featuring vintage photographs, actor recreations and, surprisingly, some familiar footage. That footage was from the Ray Milland-John Wayne-Paulette Goddard-Susan Hayward feature from 1942, Reap The Wild Wind. I just got the movie last year. Later, while touring the museum, I found a Reap The Wild Wind display.

Above, the Reap The Wild Wind display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the video, guests wander around the museum set up in different levels and finishing with a "hike" up a lookout tower, used to spot shipwrecks. I only went part way up (no need to invite a heart attack).

Above, a 64 lb. silver bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a vintage diving suit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is an interesting museum with lots of artifacts salvaged from shipwrecks. There's even a silver bar on display with the challenge to visitors to lift it.

Above, at the entryway to the lookout tower outside. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the lookout tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, more salvaged artifacts on display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, assorted recovered bottles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Key West Shipwreck Museum was well worth the visit. To access the website, go here.