Dry Tortugas Walking Pin Tour
A step by step adventure you can hold in your hand
Welcome to the Tour
Pack your day bag, grab your lanyard, and imagine the sun already warming your shoulders. This walking tour begins where so many Dry Tortugas adventures start: in Key West, at the edge of the continental United States.
On this journey weâll move through the park the way a visitor might explore it on foot, using our pin designs as âstopsâ along the way. Think of each pin as a tiny postcard from the places and stories that make Dry Tortugas so special.
Our Journey Starts Here
Stop 1 - Southernmost Point, Key West
Before we ever set foot on Garden Key, we start in Key West with our Southernmost Point pin. The bright stripes and bold lettering match the famous concrete buoy that marks 90 miles to Cuba and the end of U.S. Route 1.
Behind the buoy on our backer card youâll see the Key West Customs House. Today itâs a museum, but historically it was the center of commerce, customs, and maritime stories. Itâs the kind of place that reminds you Key West has always been a busy doorway to the islands beyond.
From here, itâs time to head for the open water.
Heading for the islands - Your ride to Dry Tortugas
Whether you hop on the Yankee Freedom ferry, soar in by seaplane, or come in on your own boat, the 70 mile trip out to the Tortugas is part of the magic. As the mainland slips out of sight, the water shifts from deep blue to that unreal turquoise that never looks quite real in photos.
On the horizon, youâll first notice the shape of Fort Jefferson: a six sided brick fortress anchoring Garden Key in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. As you get closer, another feature comes into view: and thatâs where our next pin is waiting.
Stop 2 - Garden Key Lighthouse Blueprint Pin
As your boat lines up with the dock, look toward the fortâs corner. Rising above the brickwork is the Garden Key lighthouse, the star of our blueprint pin.
The light is no longer in commission, but our design shows it glowing on purpose. Our founder lived and worked out here for a period of time and was lucky enough to be present when the lighthouse was briefly relit. That rare moment, seeing the lantern room shining again, earned its permanent place on the pin.
In the background of the design, blueprint lines hint at the engineering and history behind this small but mighty tower. Itâs the first thing many visitors fall in love with as they approach Garden Key.
Now itâs time to walk inside
Stop 3 - The Amphitheater at Fort Jefferson
Step across the drawbridge, pass through the thick walls of the sally port, and take just a few steps forward. Youâre now standing in the area many people call the amphitheater, the scene for our Fort Jefferson Amphitheater pin.
Despite the name, itâs not a concert venue. The âamphitheaterâ is simply the open space where daily yankee freedom talks are held, and where scientists and researchers sometimes give presentations. In our opinion, itâs one of the best gathering spots in the fort, second only to the chapel for meetings or group conversations.
From here you can still see the Garden Key lighthouse we just talked about. What you canât see, tucked just out of view, is one of the most famous corners of the fortâs history.
Stop 4 - Dr. Mudd and the Lincoln Conspiracy
If you continue inside the fort and look toward the second tier, youâll find one of Dr. Samuel Muddâs cells. This is the one most visitors know: the cell with the self dug cistern where he shared space with other conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Our Dr. Mudd and John Wilkes Booth pin doesnât show the inside of the fort, though. Instead, it captures the moment that set the whole story into motion: John Wilkes Booth arriving at Dr. Muddâs home with a broken leg after fleeing Washington, D.C. The pin shows Mudd setting Boothâs leg, a quiet domestic scene that would carry enormous consequences.
Inside Fort Jefferson, Mudd had more than one holding location. Another cell, tucked back near South Beach, is rarely visited and doesnât usually appear prominently on maps. After we visit the main cell, we can take a detour to find this hidden corner of history before heading up to the top of the fort.
Stop 5 - Rodman Gun on the Top Tier
From the cell area, climb one of the spiral staircases to the top tier of the fort. Up here, the breeze is stronger, the sky feels closer, and the views stretch in every direction.
Along the south side youâll find the subject of our next pin: the Rodman gun. These massive cannons were designed to protect the sea approaches to the Gulf of Mexico. Our Rodman Gun pin captures one of these heavy guns resting in its brick emplacement, aimed out over the water, clouds and blue sky framing the scene.
Itâs easy to imagine how imposing this setup would have looked to any ship sailing too close. Today, itâs a favorite photo stop for visitors, and the perfect place to pause before we make our way down to the sand.
Stop 6 - Pelicans on South Beach
From the Rodman gun, look up and youâll often see pelicans coasting on the wind, gliding overhead like they own the place. Directly below, along the edge of the island, is South Beach: the inspiration for our Pelicans on South Beach pin.
Follow the path down from the fort to the waterline. Here, turquoise waves meet a strip of sand with an unforgettable view back toward the brick walls of Fort Jefferson. Our pin shows two pelicans cruising past the shoreline, the fort rising in the background, exactly the kind of scene you might catch in real life if you linger long enough.
South Beach is a favorite spot to slow down, float in the water, and soak in just how remote and beautiful Dry Tortugas really is.
Final stop - Sunset in the Florida Keys
Every island adventure has to end, and eventually itâs time to board your boat or plane and head back toward Key West. As Fort Jefferson shrinks behind you, you carry the dayâs sights, stories, and sea salt with you.
Our final pin brings the tour full circle: the Sunset in the Florida Keys pin. Picture the sky going gold and then deep orange, a pier stretching into the water, and palm trees silhouetted against the last light. Back in Key West, sunset at Mallory Square is its own celebration: street performers, music, and everyone turning to watch the sun drop into the sea.
Itâs the perfect way to close out a Dry Tortugas day and the final âstopâ on our walking pin tour.
Bring The Tour Home
We created this series so you can carry a little piece of Dry Tortugas with you, whether youâve visited in person, are planning your first trip, or simply love national park history and island views.
To explore every design featured in this tour, scroll down and tap the button to view our full Dry Tortugas pin collection.
