Dry Tortugas National Park News
Showing the last 10 news releases. Click here to visit nps.gov's Dry Tortugas National Park - News section for more.
National Park archeologists find remains of underwater hospital and cemetery at Dry Tortugas
May 1, 2023 | 1:00 pm
Dry Tortugas National Park announced the finding of archeological remains of a 19th century quarantine hospital and cemetery on a submerged island near Garden Key. The small quarantine hospital was used to treat yellow fever patients at the fort between 1890 and 1900. The cemetery has been identified as the Fort Jefferson Post Cemetery.
Dry Tortugas National Park has limited options for vessels landing on Garden Key during grouper season
April 24, 2023 | 11:05 am
Beginning May 1, the small dinghy beach between the main dock and the seaplane beach will be open from sunrise until 10 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to sunset. The beach will be closed to all landings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dry Tortugas National Park temporarily closes sections of moat wall to snorkeling
April 3, 2023 | 12:50 pm
One-half of the moat wall will be closed to snorkeling during coral relocation work from April to June.
Dry Tortugas National Park Seeks Public Input on Repairs to Counterscarp and Moat at Fort Jefferson
March 8, 2023 | 11:30 am
The release of the Environmental Assessment for repairs to the Fort Jefferson counterscarp and dredging of the moat at Dry Tortugas National Park is available for review and public comment from Mar. 8 to April 10, 2023.
Dry Tortugas National Park will Reopen on January 28
January 6, 2023 | 1:00 pm
On January 8 at 8 a.m., Dry Tortugas National Park will reopen to public access, including to overnight camping.
Dry Tortugas National Park will temporarily close on January 2
January 1, 2023 | 3:00 pm
KEY WEST, Fla. – On January 2 at 8 am, Dry Tortugas National Park will temporarily close to public access while law enforcement and medical personnel evaluate, provide care for and coordinate transport to Key West for approximately 300 migrants who arrived in the park over the past couple of days. The closure, which is expected to last several days, is necessary for the safety of visitors and staff because of the resources and space needed to attend to the migrants. Concession-operated ferry and sea plane services are temporarily suspended.
Ferry Service Resumes to Dry Tortugas National Park
October 9, 2022 | 2:16 pm
Concession-operated ferry service to Dry Tortugas National Park will resume on Monday, October 10 after engineers inspected the storm-damaged dock on Garden Key and determined it is safe to partially reopen. Visitors should check concessions websites or call for more information on availability.
Update on Dry Tortugas Dock - October 6
October 6, 2022 | 1:43 pm
Engineers will begin their assessment of the damaged docks on Loggerhead and Garden Keys on Saturday, October 8. The docks will remain inaccessible to the ferry and private vessels through at least Sunday, October 9.
Dry Tortugas National Park seeks public input on plan for repairs to the Fort Jefferson counterscarp and dredging of selected areas
January 14, 2022 | 12:30 pm
Public comment period is open Jan. 14 through Feb. 14 for a plan for repairs to the Fort Jefferson counterscarp and dredging the moat and finger piers. Damage resulted from Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Wounded veterans experience therapeutic benefits of diving while helping Dry Tortugas National Park
November 10, 2021 | 1:30 pm
Seven veterans with service-connected disabilities experienced the benefits of diving while contributing to coral restoration work and buoy maintenance at Dry Tortugas National Park.