This astonishing man of history has so many accolades associated with his name that it would take many paragraphs to list them all… so I’ll be satisfied by sharing four: 1) He led a Calvary regiment of the US Army into Cuba in 1898 known as the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War, earning him the Medal of Honor. 2) The world-famous Teddy Bear gets its first name after him. 3) His image graces yet another world-famous icon, this is a mountain near Keystone, South Dakota known as Mount Rushmore. 4) Roosevelt has consistently been ranked by scholars as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents.

In finding this hidden gem of historical quotes I realize yet again how lucky I am to find and seek out such items and then pass them on to you. I LOVE MY JOB!

You can find this famous “Teddy” Roosevelt quote at Mile Marker 79.9 on the left hand side of US-1 South behind the Bud & Mary’s Marina building nailed above a garbage can.

Maybe you too will seek out President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Flag Pole for a photograph of your own. You can find this rarely seen relic of a commemorative plaque at the corner of White Street & White Street (I’m not kidding either) here in Key West. The next time I’m in Key West I’m going to photograph the street signs… who knows, that might be a future blog!

Escaping the heat is evidently more than a human thing! Seen here are birds seeking out the refuge of the shade provided from a street lamp. I for one have NEVER seen birds do this and thought you too might be amused at this birds-of-a-feather flocking together in the shade photograph.

This spectacular view (minus the birds) can be found at the majestic eye-popping White Street Pier in Key West.

This antique shop ‘Belle’s Trading Post’ pays homage to the unwelcome visitor it had on that fateful day along with its own perseverance for building back its business after Wilma’s departure. While here, be sure to take in the views on both sides of the road, there’s a swiftly moving creek that makes for some great viewing & photos! (as seen below)

Find this sign of hurricane past at Mile Marker 14.3 on the left side of US-1 South by turning onto Blue Water Drive and veering right a mere 1/10 of a mile.

You too can find this landlubber lighthouse wannabe at Mile Marker 29.7 on the left side of the road next to the Reef Light Tackle Shop at the corner of Cahill Court & US-1 South. Yes it’s FREE to see, just pull off the road!

Now for todays dose of history & knowledge building: The lobster trap was invented in 1808 by Ebenezer Scrooge … ok, I made that up… it’s actually Ebenezer Thorndike of Swampscott, Massachusetts. A piece of bait, often fish or chum, is placed inside the trap, and the traps are dropped onto the sea floor. A long rope is tethered to each trap, at the end of which is a plastic or styrofoam buoy that bears the owner’s license number. The entrances to the traps are designed to be one-way entrances only… as the old saying goes “You can check-in but can never check-out”. The traps are checked every other day by the fisherman and rebaited if necessary.

You can find this massive sized lobster trap atop the Cudjoe Sales storage shed roadside on US-1 South at Mile Marker 22.6 above the fence on the left. PS – Don’t jump in, you won’t be able to get out! I take that back, that would make a GREAT blog!

It’s posted because wild animals have been known to become accustom to human habits of being fed at regular times and places. Over time the wild animals can become a nuisance along with potential hazards. I for one can vouch on this creature conditioning, my aunt and uncle (me too) use to feed raccoons on a regular basis after dinner while sitting on their back porch overlooking the Gulf Of Mexico. Sure enough, EVERY nite at exactly the same time a dozen or so would gather around for their nightly treat.

So if you’d like to see a “Do Not Feed Animals” sign that’s NOT located in a Zoo or Park then head on down to Mile Marker 50 in the town of Marathon and simply get off of US-1 South and start looking. Good luck and remember… Don’t Feed The Animals!

They called it “Flagler’s Folly,” the wondrous work of concrete, steel and wood stretching 128 miles from the Florida mainland to Key West, in a place where nature never intended for a railroad to run.

But exactly 100 years ago Sunday at 10:43 a.m., a 110-ton Schenectady-built locomotive, powered by steam heated by oil, rolled over the last length of track on a dusty and stark Key West, bearing the ailing man dubbed the island’s savior, oil baron Henry Flagler. He was greeted by applause, cheers, band music and choirs of schoolchildren, this man whose final dream was realized by the completion of his Florida East Coast Railway’s Key West extension.

I encourage all of you interested in this subject to read and look up books by Seth Bramson a local Miami author & Florida East Coast Railway Historian.

You can visit the historic railway depot & museum in ’Old Town’ at  Harbor Walk here in Key West.

I’ve known of the Lion Fish… uh… ok, since it’s not a sculpture, monument or statue I’ll give it my best guess and call it a “Parade Float”. Make no mistake, it’s very neat and is impossible to miss sitting roadside on one of Key West’s main thoroughfares. With that said, I think I’ll resist the temptation of renting this aquarium swimming giant for my next backyard cookout for all of my friends to see. Wait… (massive brain storming going on)…  Wow, this could be the centerpiece for the “First Annual 365 Things To Do In The Florida Keys BBQ”… NO, I think I’ll still pass!

You can find and RENT this flamboyant fantail of a fish sitting on Roosevelt Blvd on the left hand side of the road a mere mile or so after arriving on the island of Key West! It’s FREE to pose with the catch of the day but will cost you to partake in the newest craze in town called “FISH FOR RENT”!

The pier posts pictured here are from one of Key West’s busiest and most popular places to stay. The Casa Marina Resort is filled with Jet Skis, Boats, Swimmers, Sunbathing Worshipers, Sand Castle Builders and Sightseers galore and yet NO ONE else walking by these dock posts even gave them a second glance more less a photograph as I did. This to me is true beauty and gets me even deeper into relax mode and is yet another one of the reasons I absolutely LOVE KEY WEST!