The Dry Tortugas National Park is located in Florida, USA. The islands are 70 miles west of Key West. The Dry Tortugas consist of seven keys named Garden, Loggerhead, Bush, Long, East, Hospital and Middle. To visit the park, you must take a boat or plane. The island could be considered rustic. Cell phones will not work on the island and there are no public restrooms, phones or snack bars. The power is generated on the island itslef. On your visit, make sure you have brought everything you need, as you will not be able to buy anything on the island.

Dry Tortugas National Park has bright, colorful coral and sea grass communities underwater. They are some of the best in the Florida Keys. You will see such animals as the queen conch brain coral and the endangered sea turtle. You can even see marine creatures in the sea grass as you stroll on the fort’s moat wall. The moat wall is a 0.6-mile hike considered easy. Be aware that you should never touch coral as it can destroy what takes years to grow.

You can bring your own boat to visit the park. Boaters should be aware that there is a possibility of rough seas. Check with visitor center for nautical charts and rules on docking and mooring.

A trip to the visitor center is a good start of your stay. The center can provide information on the places of interests and exhibits. Restrooms are only available on commercial ferryboats. Composting toilets are available after 2:30pm at the campground. Pets must be on leash at all times and are not allowed in Fort Jefferson or on the swimming beach. http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/brochures.htm

• Camping is offered at a primitive campground. Campsites have picnic tables and grills. There are ten campsites available with a fee of $3 per person per night. Reservations can be made by calling: 305-242-7700.http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/camping.htm

• Fort Jefferson is open for a self-guided tour. Fort Jefferson is located on Garden Key and open during the day. aRanger-led tours are also available. Garden Key visitor center has details on tours.http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm

• Bird watching is a popular activity on the islands. While only 40 species are in the area during the winter, over 290 species have been seen there.http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/upload/Dry%20Tortugas%20National%20Park%20Bird%20Checklist.pdf

• Diving, guide fishing, sailing, snorkeling and wildlife viewing are all available in the area through outside vendors. There are over 300 shipwrecks in the area.http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm

Throughout history, the location of the Dry Tortugas has come in contact with a many shipping vessels. In early American history, Spanish explorers and merchants traveled along this coast. In the mid 1800’s, Fort Jefferson was built to protect the shipping channel for the United States. A lighthouse was later constructed in 1825 on Garden Key to help warn ships of the reefs that posed a navigation hazard to them. In 1858, another lighthouse was built on Loggerhead Key. The Carnegie Institute built a Laboratory in Marine Biology in 1905. It was established in January 4, 1935 as the Dry Tortugas National Park.