KEY WEST â The Schooner Western Union, the flagship of the state of Florida and city of Key West, is far from its glory days of being the tall ship that once repaired the signal cable from Key West to Cuba and placed undersea telegraph cables throughout the Caribbean.
One of the last historic tall ships, the Western Union is iconic not only in the Keys but across the state, and the schooner is revered as a true part of the maritime history of the Keys and Florida.
However, the historic sailing vessel currently sits in dry dock at the end of Robbieâs Marina on Stock Island, being eaten away by the elements. Funding has all but dried up, like the ship itself, and no work is currently being done on her. No tarps cover her deck for protection. Rainwater is rotting the planks and the sun bakes her topside.
The Schooner Western Union, the flagship of the state of Florida and City of Key West, is far from its glory days of being the tall ship that once repaired the signal cable from Key West to Cuba and placed undersea telegraph cable throughout the Caribbean.
One of the last historic tall ships, the Western Union is iconic not only in the Keys but across the state, and the schooner is revered as a true part of the maritime history of the Keys and Florida.
Schooner Western Union Pull Quote Afloat is where she belongs. . It breaks my heart to see her in condition she is now. I love that old ship.