Geiger Key facts for kids
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An aerial of Geiger Key Campground, October 1987
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 Geiger Key
Location in Florida
Geiger Key
Location in Caribbean
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Gulf of Mexico |
| Coordinates | 24°34′41″N 81°39′34″W / 24.577919°N 81.65936°W |
| Archipelago | Florida Keys |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Florida Straits |
| Administration | |
| State | Florida |
| County | Monroe |
Geiger Key is a small island in the lower Florida Keys. It's about 5 miles (8 km) east of Key West. You can reach it by a bridge from Big Coppitt Key. This bridge is part of Boca Chica Road, which connects to U.S. 1, also known as the Overseas Highway.
On Geiger Key, you'll find a small community called Tamarac. There's also the Geiger Key Pub & Grill and the Geiger Key Marina. The island is part of the larger area known as Big Coppitt Key, Florida.
Contents
The Story Behind the Name
Geiger Key was named after Henry Huling Geiger. He was an early settler in the Florida Keys. In 1843, he received land on the Key. This happened under a special law called the "Armed Occupation Act of 1842". Henry Geiger also owned land in the city of Key West.
Henry Geiger's Family History
Henry Geiger's parents were John Geiger from Pennsylvania and Catherine Huling from Maryland. They moved to St. Augustine in Spanish Florida in 1805. Records from the St. Augustine Cathedral show this.
What People Said About Henry Geiger
A book called The Florida Keys: A History of the Pioneers by John Viele mentions Geiger Key. It quotes A. D. Bache, who did a Coast Survey in 1861. Bache described Geiger Key as being 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. He noted that in 1855, the land was well-farmed. It was home to an "industrious German" person, who gave the Key its name. This person was Henry Huling Geiger. Henry bought more land in the nearby Boca Chica area in 1867.
Henry Geiger worked as a planter or farmer. He was also a woodcutter and a tanner. Federal Census Records show that he had help from other workers. These included a free black gentleman named Robert Allen and at least two other single men.
Henry Geiger had one son, John Robert Geiger. Henry asked the Florida State Assembly to make his son legitimate, and they agreed in 1850. There are no records of Henry having a wife or other children.
After Henry Geiger passed away in September 1872, his son, John Robert Geiger, sold the land. He sold his father's property to his uncle, Captain John Geiger of Key West, in April 1873. Sadly, none of the original buildings from Henry Geiger's plantation still exist today.
Captain John Geiger and the Geiger Tree
Henry Geiger had a younger brother named Captain John Henry Geiger. Captain Geiger was a well-known person in Key West. He had settled there before Henry arrived in the Keys.
Captain Geiger was a successful wrecker in Key West. This meant he helped salvage goods from shipwrecks. The famous artist and naturalist John James Audubon stayed with Captain Geiger in 1832. While in the Keys, Audubon painted a local flowering tree. This tree was growing in Captain Geiger's gardens. Audubon named it the "Geiger Tree" (Cordia sebestena).
Captain Geiger's home and gardens in Key West have been saved and restored. Today, they are a museum, a store, and a place for events. It is sometimes mistakenly called the "Audubon House and Tropical Gardens".
Geiger Key Today
Today, Geiger Key is known for its quiet and peaceful atmosphere. It is a great place to relax away from the busy areas of Key West. The island has secluded inlets hidden by palm trees and mangroves. These natural spots are perfect for a calm day outdoors.
