Visting Dry Tortugas National Park

Where in the world is Dry Tortugas National Park,Jefferson (a brick structure that came to be used
and how did such a beautiful place get such anas a prison housing accused conspirators in
odd name? About 70 miles off the coast of KeyLincoln's assassination), the strip of sandy beaches
West, Dry Tortugas is a group of tiny islandsand colorful reefs is now a destination for the
known for the abundant sea life, including sea80,000 tourists who visit each year.
turtles. Tortugas is Spanish for turtles, and thatAll leave in amazement at the intriguing history of
explains a portion of its odd name.the former based originally conceived as a
But what makes it dry, given that the park isdefense against - you guessed it - the (real)
surrounded by the waters of the crystal clearpirates of the Caribbean. Tourists now can
blue Caribbean? The name actually comes fromexperience many interesting and fun activities in
the days when the Spanish settled the islands,Dry Tortugas National Park, from a fascinating
and they soon found out that there were notour of historical Fort Jefferson, to sunning on the
fresh water springs available. So the islandssandy beaches, to a memorable snorkeling trip to
eventually became known as the Dry Tortugas,see the diverse sea life.
or "dry turtles." Even now, because the islets areOf course, the only access to the island is by
a popular tourist destination, visitors must bringboat or sea plan. So if you want to book a trip, a
their own water.Dry Tortugas charter will be necessary, which can
First designated a National Monument by FDR, thecost upwards of $135 per person. We
islets were named a National Park in 1992 at therecommend checking for discounts on Dry
tail end of George H. W. Bush's term. As theTortugas charters.
home of the unfinished Civil War era Fort