"Western Union"

Built in the great tradition of the wrecking vessels used in Key West in the 1800s, the 130-foot schooner Western Union is the last example of a traditional American coasting schooner made in the U.S., the last sailing cable ship on earth, and the last tall ship constructed in Key West. Launched there in 1939, she served the Western Union Telegraph Co. for 35 years repairing and maintaining the company's telegraph cables throughout the Caribbean, including her last cable work in November 1973. She survived a hurricane, had a high-stakes espionage run with Cuban gun boats, and was saved from destruction by Capt. John Krause when she was about to be converted into a barge. After being chartered for trips in Chesapeake Bay, the Virgin Islands, and Florida, she returned to Key West in early 1980 for local sunset cruises and during the Mariel Boatlift brought back more than 300 Cuban refugees to new lives in the United States. Efforts from 1982 to 1984 to keep her in Key West failed because of the cost, but local businessmen brought her back on February 9, 1997, under former Captain Dick Steadman, who died on May 23, 1997, and she was later purchased by Historic Tours of America, Inc., redesignated Flagship of Key West, The Conch Republic, and the State of Florida, and sailed from her old home port at the Key West Bight.

Key West, Florida · United States