430 Duval Street
Key West FL
800-745-2191
305-296-2991

Carl E Aubuchon built this Key West landmark, first opened in January of 1926, to provide the city with a "first class hotel." The newest hotel on the island had marble floors, private baths, elevators and other luxuries that were new to Key West accommodations. It was no surprise that the hotel was an immediate success with wealthy industrialists, visiting dignitaries, and high society. In fact, when the president of Pan American World Airways, Juan A. Trippe, announced the beginning of service between Key West and Cuba in 1927, he located the first office in the hotel. During this time, rum-running thrived, the sponge-gathering and cigar-making industry was booming and warm weather tourists from the mainland were being delivered by the hundreds to Key West by Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad.