Key West wrecking industry

E799684

The Key West wrecking industry was a 19th-century maritime salvage trade centered in Key West, Florida, that became the region’s primary economic engine by recovering cargo and ships wrecked on the nearby reefs.

Jump to: Statements Referenced by

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf historical economic activity
maritime salvage industry
basedOn hazardous navigation around the Florida Keys
shipwrecks on nearby reefs
centeredOn Port of Key West NERFINISHED
country United States of America
surface form: United States
declineCause better charts and safer shipping routes
construction of lighthouses on the Florida Reef
improved navigational aids
economicImpact made Key West one of the wealthiest cities per capita in the United States in the mid-19th century
economicRole primary economic engine of Key West in the 19th century
economicStructure salvage awards determined by admiralty courts
wreckers paid a percentage of recovered cargo value
employed wreckers
endPeriod late 19th century
handledCargoTypes cotton
general merchandise
lumber
machinery
manufactured goods
sugar
wine and spirits
heritage commemorated in Key West museums
part of cultural identity of Key West
involvedProcess racing to wreck sites to claim salvage rights
refloating damaged vessels
rescuing crews and passengers
transporting cargo to Key West for auction
languageOfWork English
legalFramework admiralty law
salvage law
locatedIn Florida Keys NERFINISHED
locatedOn Gulf of Mexico
Straits of Florida NERFINISHED
location Key West, Florida NERFINISHED
mainActivity maritime salvage
recovery of shipwrecks
salvage of cargo from wrecked vessels
operatedNear Florida Keys reef tract NERFINISHED
Florida Reef NERFINISHED
regulatedBy Key West municipal authorities NERFINISHED
United States federal law
territorial laws of Florida
relatedTo Florida Keys shipwrecks NERFINISHED
Key West maritime history
startPeriod early 19th century
timePeriod 19th century
usedVessels small sailing craft
wrecking schooners

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Asa Tift partOf Key West wrecking industry