“The streets tell the story—and what a story it has been. From a discovery of bones that gave rise to its name centuries ago, to today’s modernity, Key West has had a long and colorful history. For the uninitiated, a stroll around Margaritaville is a pleasant enough experience; for those in the know, however, it becomes a cerebral delight during which the town’s street signs whisper its secrets.” —from the Introduction

Simonton, Duval, Eaton, Whitehead, Southard, Truman—if you discover how these Key West streets, and all the others, came by their names, you will know much of the history of this little island at the nethermost end of the continental United States. You will learn of the rise and fall and rise again of the fortunes of this island town, which has played such a rich role in the history of the country as a whole.

Interspersed throughout the text are quotes from fiction set in Key West—from the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Tom McGuane, Alison Lurie, Thomas Sanchez—that remind us just how far Key West has inserted itself into the American experience.

So come along with author J. Wills Burke and wander the streets of Key West. You can go by car, of course, but it’s more fun to walk—or ride one of Key West’s ubiquitous bikes—so you can stop and enjoy the sites pointed out along the way. Or just travel along seated in your favorite armchair, for this book is also a very readable history of Key West.