Sand key is situated next to a channel that leads to Key West. It's located roughly eight miles to the north west of Key West. In normal conditions, a significant amount of sand accumulates on the submerged reefs at Sand Key and it actually creates a small island.

Soon after the United States took possession of Florida in 1821, a wooden daymark was placed on the island to warn mariners of this navigational hazard. Lighthouses to mark Florida's reef had just recently been completed at Cape Florida, Key West and the Dry Tortugas, when Congress allocated $16,000 on May 18, 1826 for a lighthouse on Sand Key. The plans for this tower were similar to those us for the other three calling for a 70 foot conical brick tower, exhibiting a light from 11 lamps set in 14 inch reflectors.

Sand Keys light revolved, producing a flashing signature that differentiated it from the nearby fixed light at Key West. The first keeper of Sand Key Lighthouse was slated to be Joseph Ximenez. However, keeper John Flaherty and his wife Rebecca were having a terrible time adjusting to their isolated lives on the Dry Tortugas. So the collector of customs at Key West, William Pinckney arranged for the two keepers to trade assignments. Shortly after the Flaherty's arrived on the island, Sand Key Light was exhibited for the first time on April 15, 1827.

With fisherman, wreckers and picnickers from Key West frequenting the island, the Flaherty's thoroughly enjoyed their new social life. Their joy however, was short lived as John became very sick in May of 1828, and then passed away in 1830. Rebecca remained on the island and was appointed keeper after her husband's death.

In June of 1831, William Randolph Hackley, and attorney in Key West, recorded the following account of a visit he made at Sand Key Lighthouse. "The wind was so light that we did not get to the Key until noon. I went up to the lighthouse. The light is revolving and it's one of the best in the United States. It's kept by Mrs. Flaherty. She with her sister and a hired man are the only inhabitants of the Key and sometimes there are none but the two females. The length of the key is from 150 to 200 yards, and the average breath 50 yards. We remain till evening and having spent a pleasant day, returned to town around 8pm.

The November 23, 1834 edition of the Florida Herald reported a wedding on Sand Key Lighthouse. Rebecca Flaherty had married Captain Frederick Neill. The newlyweds took a lengthy trip the next year to visit family while, a temporary keeper watched the light. Upon their return, Captain Neil was appointed the keeper and served in this role until he resigned in February 10 of 1836.

Captain Francis Wallington was the next keeper maintaining the light until July 27, 1837, when the colorful Captain Joshua Appleby succeeded him. Born in Rhode Island in 1773, Appleby became a widower at a young age when his first wife, Sarah Vaille died at 23. Leaving him alone to care for their one year old daughter, Eliza. In 1820, Appleby sailed for the Florida Keys, where he co founded a settlement on Vaca Key and made a living from the sea through fishing, turtling and salvaging shipwrecks. Appleby's salvaging practices were soon called into question as he was accused of conspiring with a privateer, Charles Hoffner, to intentionally run aground vessels captured by Hoffner so the cargo could be salvaged and sold.

Commander David Porter, head of the naval Squadron a key was responsible for eradicating piracy had Apple be arrested in 1823, and takeen to the irons in Charleston, South Carolina.

Appleby must have been innocent or had friends in high places as he was released after Smith Thompson, the Secretary of the Navy and President James Monroe reviewed the case. Upon securing his freedom, Appleby returned to Rhode Island for a time and then he relocated to Key West. In 1830, the government granted Appleby a license as a wrecker, a trade he practiced for several years. Then on July 27, 1837, he accepted an appointment as the head keeper of Sand Key Lighthouse. While Applebee's livelihood had previously depended on ships misfortunes, it was now his duty to keep these ships safely away from the reef.

During Applebee's tenure at the lighthouse, hurricanes struck Sand Key in 1841 and 1842. With the 1842 hurricane destroying the keepers dwelling and seriously damaging the land. In 1843, a seawall was built around the lighthouse to properly provide protection from the storm surge that accompanied the hurricanes. The following year, that wall was put to the test and it failed. The new keepers dwelling was swept away along with a good portion of the island.

Applebee's daughter, Eliza, have visited the lighthouse on October 1846, along with her husband and their three year old son, and Mary's adopted daughter. On October 11th, a hurricane described as "the most destructive have any that has ever visited these latitudes and the memory of man" hit Sand Key. As the hurricane strengthen, Appleby in his five visitors very likely sought refuge in the lighthouse, since the tower had withstood previous storms. The seawall again proved no match for the hurricane as the raging seas swept across the island washing away the dwelling, tower, and the island itself.

The following morning waves were observed rolling over the reef where the island had been and no trace of the lighthouse could be seen.

Still the reef posed a threat to vessels and Honey, a 140 ton ship was soon purchased in New York recommissioned as a light ship and sent to Florida to mark Sand Key. Congress acted quickly as well, allocating $20,000 on March 3, 1847 for a new Sand Key lighthouse. And then adding an additional some of $39,970 and 74 cents to the project in 1848.

Before the new lighthouse was completed, at least eight vessels had run aground on the reef resulting in a loss of over $420,000. Although lighthouses were expensive to construct, the reduction in lost cargo easily offset the investment.

Hurricanes struck Sand Key lighthouse tower again in 1856 and 1865, followed by the twin hurricanes of 1870, and another one in 1875. Each hurricanes swept away most of the island and the station's Wharf, boathouse, privy and oil house were destroyed multiple times.

By 1875, the dwelling perched in the tower had suffered so much abuse at the hands of the hurricanes that it to had to be replaced using a $20,000 appropriation made by Congress in 1874.

As the bolts used to hold the dwelling together were thoroughly rusted, much cutting was required to remove the old structure before it could be replaced with a new, heavier one.

During the periods between hurricanes when sand built back up around the lighthouse, thousands of terns congregated on Sand Key to nest. Eggs were found to be quite tasty and the light housekeepers would collect him by the basket full to deliver to their friends in Key West.

At one point, it was reported that nine to 12,000 birds used to nest on Sand Key, but so many eggs were taken only two or 300 young ones hatched. On neighboring islands, birds would be killed by plume hunter seeking fancy feathers to adorn ladies hats.

Eventually, Sand Key Lighthouse came under control of the Coast Guard. The light was automated and the dwelling on that lighthouse was vacated on June 1, 2017.

The Sand Key Lighthouse was deemed access by the Coast Guard and was made available under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act to eligible entities.

And it was today, January the 9, 1827, that construction began on the first lighthouse on Sand Key. It was completed in 70 days.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

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