Before 1951, Duck Key was an isolated island with minor salt production and cultivation of sea cotton. In 1951, Miami developer Bryan W. Newkirk Sr. and his business partners, Telfair Knight, Robert Eugene Otto, and his son, Bryan W. Newkirk Jr., began developing Duck Key. Originally one large island, it was divided by dredged canals into five separate islands—Indies, Centre, Harbour, Plantation, and Yacht Club—connected by four ornately designed bridges. Key West artist Robert Eugene Otto gave each island a unique style and theme, and he and Bryan W. Newkirk Jr. designed the four bridges. Inspired by bridges in Venice, Italy, they featured decorative railings, pineapple and papaya finials, and steep curved profiles. The main resort, the Indies House, was designed by architect Morris Lapidus. Duck Key became a popular destination for celebrities and politicians. In 1964, the first bridge connecting Indies Island was renamed the Truman Bridge in honor of frequent visitor President Harry Truman. The four bridges were rehabilitated in 1982 and replaced in 2021.