Key West, Fl.

• Oldest Naval Station in Florida: Key West’s Naval Station was established in 1823, making it the oldest in Florida and one of the oldest in the United States. • Civil War Significance: During the American Civil War, Key West remained under Union control, making it a strategic stronghold in the Confederacy-dominated South. • Home to the Southernmost Point: Naval Air Station Key West is the southernmost military installation in the continental United States. • World War II Expansion: During World War II, Key West became a major training and anti-submarine warfare center, with thousands of personnel stationed there. • Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, Key West played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis as a forward operating location for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. • Frequent Presidential Visits: President Harry S. Truman spent 175 days of his presidency at the Key West Naval Station, now known as the "Little White House." • Fighter Pilot Training Hub: Today, NAS Key West is known for its excellent flying weather and is a premier site for air combat maneuvering training. • Underwater Demolition Teams: The predecessor to the Navy SEALs, Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), trained in the waters near Key West during WWII. • Joint Interagency Task Force South: Based in Key West, this task force coordinates multi-national efforts to combat illicit trafficking in the Caribbean and beyond. • Historic Fort Zachary Taylor: Adjacent to the base, Fort Zachary Taylor served as a military stronghold from the Civil War through the Spanish-American War, and its massive cannons still stand today.