History of the Conch Republic
The Conch Republic was founded on April 23, 1982. There was a border patrol blockade between Florida City and the Florida Keys, which was an unprecedented border roadblock in the interior of the U.S. Every car traveling between Key West and the rest of Florida was stopped to search for noncitizens and drugs. Every traveler would have to go through customs to get to Key West. This caused unbelievable traffic jams on the only access roads to the Florida Keys. As word got out about this situation, tourists began canceling reservations.
Mayor Dennis Wardlow filed an injunction against the Federal government to stop this blockade. The court did not rule to put an end to this treatment. Because Key West was being treated as a foreign country, they decided to secede from the union and form their own sovereign nation, the Conch Republic. Mayor Wardlow signed an order of secession on April 23 and became Prime Minister.
The Conch Republic Military
The first battle for independence happened moments after the declaration of secession. Prime Minister Wardlow declared war on the U.S. and attacked a United States Naval officer who happened to be standing nearby. Wardlow broke a piece of stale Cuban bread over the officer’s head. Directly after this attack, Wardlow surrendered and requested one million dollars of foreign aid from the U.S. The aid was never provided, but the blockade was removed in a few days.
In 1984, the Conch Republic again declared war on the U.S. to prevent the federal government from liquidating a two-masted schooner built on Key West, the Western Union, because of a $350,000 unpaid loan. Former Monroe Country mayor/now Admiral of the Conch Republic Wilhemina Harvey led a brigade to Fort Taylor. The sole defender of Fort Taylor was overpowered and the Conch Republic occupied the fort and demanded the schooner be saved. It was bought by a nonprofit organization that used it for educational purposes. The current flagship of the Conch Republic is the Schooner Wolf.
Then in September 1995, the Secretary General of the Conch Republic discovered that the U.S. was planning military training exercises to simulate naval landing on a foreign country. The U.S. was planning to use Key West to fill in for the foreign country.
The Conch Republic protested the use of their land in this way, but the training exercises continued. The Conch Republic then attacked the U.S. boats by firing water cannons at them from fireboats and hitting people on the head with stale Cuban bread. The training exercises were called off and the military ships made a diplomatic visit to the Conch Republic.
Today the Conch Republic boasts the largest sail-propelled navy in the world. The Conch Republic Navy values humor, warmth, and respect, and its motto is ‘Doing the right thing at the right time’.
Conch Republic Days Events
Conch Republic Days officially start on April 21 and run until April 30, 2023. There are lots of things to do in Key West during these festive days.
Every day the Conch Republic official merchandise booth and Welcome Center will be open. There will also be opportunities to sail on historic schooners, catamarans, and sloops.
On April 18 ‘Conch Republic – The Musical’ will open at the Little Jazz Room on Duval Street. It will be performed every day, except April 24, until the end of the month.
On Friday the 21st there will be a conchy beach clean up at Higgs beach. Then, the raising of the colors will happen at Mallory Square.
There will be speeches from the fearless leaders of the Conch Republic and a blowing of the sacred conch shell by the Conch Republic Jesters. The Schooner Warf Bar, the official party headquarters, will host a kickoff party and conch shell-blowing contest.
At the same time as the kickoff party, you could catch one of the Performances of ‘Conch Republic – The Musical’ at the Fringe Theater, or go to the Last Chance Bar in Florida City to see the documentary ‘Adventures of the Conch Republic’.
The fun continues on Saturday morning at Stock Island. There will be an Earth Day cleanup. This is a particularly family-friendly event and high school students can earn community service hours by participating. Then there will be a Conch Crawl Bar Stroll and Distillery Tour through several Old Town bars. Drag races will start in front of the Bourbon Street Pub. Participants are asked to don high heels and pretty dresses to race down the street and go through obstacle courses.
You can run in this race, or just watch. The Conch Republic Wearable Art Fashion Show will happen in the evening. ‘Adventures of the Conch Republic’ and “Conch Republic – the Musical’ will also be shown Saturday night.
Sunday events include the secession re-enactment at the former Chamber of Commerce building and jazz at the Gardens Hotel.
On Monday you can see the Conch Republic K-9 Muster at the Emporium or the blind wine tasting at The Gardens Hotel.
Tuesday things to do in Key West include the Conch Republic Military Muster and Conch-tail Party and the mandatory captains’ meeting and independence boat parade. Highlights of Wednesday’s Key West events are the ‘Art of Wine’ gallery tour and wine stroll and the ‘Hot Havana Night Dinner and Benefit’. Hot Havana will benefit the TREE Institute Cuba Program and the Flagship Wolf Preservation Society Humanitarian Relief Missions.
The Conch Republic parade will begin in the evening on Thursday at Duval St. with a parade pre-party at Southernmost Hotel and an after-party at the Schooner Warf Bar. Friday, April 28 has a naval parade and a reenactment of the Great Sea Battle of the Conch Republic with a surrender ceremony and victory party
Saturday events include a craft fair, bed races, boat races, and a pirate ball. Sunday wraps up with more boat races and an artisan market.
How Can You Take Part?
Many of these events are free to the public. Some of the parties and races include a cash bar. Tickets are available for the wine and pub crawls, wine tasting, fashion show, theater performances, movie screenings, and dinners.
You can purchase an official Conch Republic Passport/Party Passport as a keepsake of your time in the Conch Republic. You can get the passport stamped at various places in the Republic for over $600 in Diplomatic Discounts to area attractions.
Plan Your Key West Vacation!
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Stay with Key West Vacation Homes
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