Dr. Cori Convertito, Adjunct Faculty CFK, maritime and Florida Keys historian, author, lecturer and museum curator.
Tennessee Williams Theatre
The College of the Florida Keys (Key West Campus)
Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m.
Dr. Convertito will discuss the symbiotic relationship between the U.S. Navy and Key West extending as far back as 1823. For two centuries, both have journeyed through periods of menacing pirates, Civil War blockades and blockade runners, the coming of naval aviation, two World Wars, the Great Depression and Cuban migration. This talk provides a rare opportunity for attendees to recognize and appreciate the interlaced connection between each entity; Key West would not exist as it does today without the Navy, and the Navy would not exist as it does today without Key West. More than just a chronological interpretation of the relationship, the talk promises to explore several facets including the economic impact on Key West, the geographic importance of Key West and the Florida Straits, personal stories from naval service personnel and artifacts belonging to the naval service in Key West.