Discover Dry Tortugas National Park
Imagine traveling 70 miles west of Key West and discovering an enormous historic fortress surrounded by brilliant turquoise water, white sandy beaches, and beautiful coral reefs.
Welcome to Dry Tortugas National Park, one of Florida's most unusual and unforgettable destinations.
Accessible only by boat or seaplane, this remote collection of seven small islands offers a remarkable combination of maritime history, tropical scenery, and underwater adventure.
Fort Jefferson: A Fortress in Paradise
Few landmarks are quite as unexpected as Fort Jefferson.
Rising from the waters of Garden Key, this enormous nineteenth-century coastal fortress was constructed using more than 16 million bricks.
Construction began in 1846, but despite decades of work, the fort was never completed.
Originally intended to protect important shipping routes, it later served as a military prison during the Civil War.
Today, visitors can explore its remarkable brick corridors, enormous courtyard, and historic defensive walls while enjoying spectacular ocean views.
Garden Key: An Island Adventure
Surrounding Fort Jefferson, Garden Key offers beautiful beaches, clear water, and opportunities to enjoy the tropical scenery.
Visitors arriving by ferry or seaplane can explore the historic fort, relax along the shoreline, and discover the island's unusual combination of natural beauty and American history.
It's an extraordinary setting for photography, particularly when the enormous red-brick fortress contrasts with the brilliant blue water.
Snorkeling: Discover Another World
With more than 99% of the park covered by water, some of Dry Tortugas' greatest attractions lie beneath the surface.
Around Garden Key, snorkelers can explore colorful marine habitats, observe tropical fish, and discover the remnants of historic coaling piers.
The underwater environment supports coral communities, sea turtles, and a remarkable variety of marine life.
It's a wonderful opportunity to experience Florida's natural beauty from an entirely different perspective.
Loggerhead Key: A Lighthouse in the Sea
The largest island in the Dry Tortugas, Loggerhead Key is home to a historic lighthouse completed in 1858.
Accessible to day visitors arriving by suitable private boat, this remote island offers beautiful coastal scenery and a fascinating connection to the region's maritime past.
Although the lighthouse itself is closed to visitors, its distinctive silhouette remains one of the park's memorable landmarks.
Keep Your Island Memories Close
Whether your favorite memory is a photograph of Fort Jefferson, a snorkeling adventure, or the unforgettable journey across the ocean, Dry Tortugas offers experiences worth remembering.
A GTK QR Tile connects a physical keepsake to your existing online photographs, travel stories, and favorite memories, or brings them together on your complimentary GTK QR Page.
A little piece of island paradise, wherever life takes you.
Get To Know People & What They Know About Dry Tortugas National Park
GTK® is an independent editorial initiative celebrating individuality, expression, connection, and the things people know.
From marine biologists and historians to photographers, conservationists, and people whose lives are connected to Florida's maritime heritage, Dry Tortugas inspires fascinating knowledge and human experiences.
We believe their stories and perspectives deserve to be discovered, shared, and remembered.
Visit GTK.us to discover more about people and what they know.
