Windley Key facts for kids
The sign at the front entrance to Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
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 Windley Key
Location in Florida
Windley Key
Location in Caribbean
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Gulf of Mexico |
| Coordinates | 24°57′00″N 80°35′52″W / 24.9500°N 80.5978°W |
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| State | Florida |
| County | Monroe |
Windley Key is a small island located in the upper part of the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys are a string of tropical islands in Florida, United States. Windley Key is part of Monroe County.
The main road, U.S. 1, also known as the Overseas Highway, crosses the island. It's found between two other keys: Plantation Key and Upper Matecumbe Key. Since November 4, 1997, Windley Key has been part of the Village of Islamorada.
Windley Key is a fun place to visit! It's home to Theater of the Sea, a popular animal attraction that opened in 1946. You can also find a special state park here, which is great for learning about rocks and old fossils.
Contents
Exploring Windley Key's Past
Before a big railroad was built, Windley Key was actually two separate islands. They were known as the Umbrella Keys.
How the Railroad Changed the Island
When the Overseas Railroad was being built, workers filled in the space between the two Umbrella Keys. This joined them into one larger island, which then became known as Windley Key. It was named after an early person who settled there.
Quarrying for "Keystone"
For many years, there were several quarries on Windley Key. Quarries are places where stone is dug out of the ground. The stone found here was special and was called "keystone." It was used to build many things in the area. The railway station on Windley Key was even called Quarry because of this.
The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane
In 1935, a very strong storm called the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane hit the Florida Keys. Windley Key was badly damaged by this powerful hurricane.
Images for kids
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The sign at the front entrance to Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
