Tea Table Key

Tea Table Key, like nearby Upper and Lower Matecumbe and Indian Keys, was occupied by Native Americans during prehistoric times, when its early inhabitants settled there to take advantage of abundant maritime resources. By 1840, the U.S. Navy had begun using Tea Table Key as an operations center and hospital site. At the time of the attack on Indian Key, most of the naval contingent was away on patrol, and an unsuccessful attempt to repel the Indians was made by launching two barges mounted with swivel guns from Tea Table Key. The Indians fired at the barges with a six-pound cannon that had previously been mounted on Indian Key by Jacob Houseman. This was the only recorded instance of artillery being used by Indians against U.S. troops during any of the Indian Wars.

Islamorada, Village of Islands, Florida · United States