Tabby House Ruins

The tabby ruins are credited to William H. Shaw, who likely built them soon after settling here in 1843, and the Shaw family lived and worked here until a Seminole Indian uprising in 1856 drove them to Key West. Recent archeological investigations suggest the site had earlier been used as a Spanish fishing camp beginning in the late 1700s. Tabby is a mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand and water, poured wet in successive levels about 6 inches deep. Because each layer could take up to three days to harden, building with tabby was a time-consuming process. After the wall was completed, a plaster of lime, sand, and water was spread over the structure to waterproof it and give it a smooth finish.

Florida · United States