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Key West officials have been aware of approximately 100 unmarked graves located at Higgs Beach for over 15 years, yet meaningful efforts to properly commemorate the site remain stalled. The graves contain the remains of roughly 295 Africans who perished in 1860, having been rescued from illegal slave vessels and brought to shore, where they succumbed to diseases including yellow fever and dysentery within weeks of arrival.
A modest concrete memorial covers 15 graves discovered in 2002, and a state historic marker identifies the location of the burial ground. However, the majority of the graves remain unmarked and largely unrecognized. Local activist Veronica Stafford attributes the lack of progress to the site’s association with slavery and African heritage, suggesting these factors have discouraged official action and public investment.
County officials cite different reasons for the delays, with former Commissioner Heather Carruthers noting that repeated efforts over years failed to produce results, leading to concerns about continued taxpayer expenditure on unsuccessful initiatives. The recent transfer of Higgs Beach Park from Monroe County to the City of Key West has revived discussions about the site’s future development and the graves beneath its surface, raising questions about how the community chooses to honor or overlook its history.
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Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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