Pigeon Key National Historic District

Florida Keys

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For years tiny Pigeon Key, located 2 miles west of Marathon (basically below the Old Seven Mile Bridge), housed the rail workers and maintenance men who built the infrastructure that connected the Keys. Today you can tour the structures of this National Historic District or relax on the beach and get in some snorkeling. Ferries leave from the bright red caboose on Knight’s Key (to the left of the Seven Mile Bridge if you’re traveling south to Pigeon).

Call ahead to confirm ferry departure times; the last one returns at 4pm.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Bahia Honda State Park

    Bahia Honda State Park

    8.12 MILES

    This park, with its long, white-sand (and at times seaweed-strewn) beach, named Sandspur Beach by locals, is the big attraction in these parts. As Keys…

  • Anne's Beach

    Anne's Beach

    27.8 MILES

    Named after local environmentalist Anne Eaton, this tiny beach is one of the finest seascapes in these parts. The small ribbon of sand opens upon a sky…

  • Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters

    Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters

    8.02 MILES

    A visit to this small, interactive aquarium starts with a free 20-minute guided tour of some fascinating marine ecosystems. There are also more immersive…

  • Long Key State Recreation Area

    Long Key State Recreation Area

    22.17 MILES

    The 965-acre Long Key State Recreation Area takes up much of Long Key. It’s about 30 minutes south of Islamorada, and comprises a tropical clump of gumbo…

  • Crane Point Museum

    Crane Point Museum

    5.08 MILES

    This is one of the nicest spots on the island to stop and smell the roses. And the pinelands. And the palm hammock – a sort of palm jungle (imagine…

  • No Name Key

    No Name Key

    10.55 MILES

    Perhaps the best-named island in the Keys, No Name gets few visitors, as it’s basically a residential island. It’s one of the most reliable spots for Key…

  • Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary

    Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary

    17.1 MILES

    Looe (pronounced ‘loo’) Key, located 5 nautical miles off Big Pine, isn’t a key at all but a reef, and is part of the Florida Keys National Marine…

  • National Key Deer Refuge Headquarters

    National Key Deer Refuge Headquarters

    12.9 MILES

    What would make Bambi cuter? Mini Bambi. Introducing the Key deer, an endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer that prance about primarily on Big Pine…

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Nearby Florida Keys attractions

1. Turtle Hospital

3.36 MILES

Be it a victim of disease, boat propeller strike, flipper entanglement with fishing lines or any other danger, an injured sea turtle in the Keys will…

2. Marathon City Marina

4 MILES

The marina, better known as Boot Key Harbor, is one of the best maintained working waterfronts in the Keys. Come during Christmas to see a ‘boat parade’…

3. Sombrero Beach

4.42 MILES

One of the few white-sand, mangrove-free beaches in the Keys. It’s a good spot to lounge on the sand or swim, and there's also a small playground.

4. Crane Point Museum

5.08 MILES

This is one of the nicest spots on the island to stop and smell the roses. And the pinelands. And the palm hammock – a sort of palm jungle (imagine…

5. Veterans Memorial Park

6.02 MILES

This small park has covered picnic tables and good access to the mudflat and mangrove habitat that makes up most of the Keys’ coastline. The views onto…

6. Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters

8.02 MILES

A visit to this small, interactive aquarium starts with a free 20-minute guided tour of some fascinating marine ecosystems. There are also more immersive…

7. Bahia Honda State Park

8.12 MILES

This park, with its long, white-sand (and at times seaweed-strewn) beach, named Sandspur Beach by locals, is the big attraction in these parts. As Keys…

8. No Name Key

10.55 MILES

Perhaps the best-named island in the Keys, No Name gets few visitors, as it’s basically a residential island. It’s one of the most reliable spots for Key…