History & Culture

The Dry Tortugas have served as a crossroads of the Gulf of Mexico for centuries. Indigenous peoples likely visited the islands seasonally for fishing and birding, though the lack of fresh water prevented permanent settlement—giving rise to the name “Dry” Tortugas. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León documented the islands in 1513, naming them Las Tortugas for the abundance of sea turtles.

In the 19th century, the United States recognized the strategic importance of the islands for controlling shipping lanes into the Gulf. Construction of Fort Jefferson began in 1846, creating one of the largest masonry forts ever built in the Western Hemisphere. Though never completed or tested in battle, the fort served as a military outpost and later a prison during the Civil War era, most famously housing Dr. Samuel Mudd after his conviction for aiding John Wilkes Booth. The area became a national monument in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was redesignated as Dry Tortugas National Park in 1992.