Marathon and the Middle Florida Keys: Henry Flagler, Turtle Hospital, and Dolphin Research Center

The story goes that the name Marathon comes from the huge task faced by Henry Flagler and his construction crew. Flagler, who apparently never met a challenge he didn’t tackle, had decided to build a railroad down through the keys, ending in Key West.

Skipping over all the normal construction difficulties, compounded by having to ship all the materials over land and water, there’s a seven-mile stretch to be crossed. It is this herculean task that is said to provide the name for Marathon.

Pigeon Key

Pigeon Key where Flagler’s crew lived. He constructed the buildings in 1909 to house more than 400 workers, working 14-hours a day, six days a week. The original Seven Mile Bridge Flagler built has been replaced by the newer span, but the old bridge is still used to provide a foot-traffic route for tourists. If walking over 2 miles in the Florida sun sounds a bit extreme, there’s also a ferry.

Marathon and the Turtle Hospital

The Turtle Hospital, a rescue and rehabilitation center for injured turtles and the only state certified veterinary hospital in the world for sea turtles, is located in Marathon and open for visitors. In fact, they’re quite proud of their educational programs. Visitors see a slide show on the history of the hospital and how their turtle-patients are treated. There's an important focus on why sea turtles are endangered. At the end visitors take a tour of the facilities and have a chance to feed those turtles too physically compromised to be released.

It’s another of the trio of wild-life rescue and rehab efforts spearheaded by individuals with a passion and love for their creatures. Richie Moretti is the man who pioneered the operation. Of course, he didn’t start out to save the turtles, he started out to fish. But he bought a motel, and the motel had a salt water swimming pool. It soon became a home for marine pets. And then, injured marine creatures. And, part of the hospital.

Today that swimming pool is one of the turtle wards. Sea turtles are an endangered species and the folks at the Turtle Hospital hope that through outreach they can speak for this ancient silent species. Some of what ails them is not caused by humans, but many of their injuries are the result of interaction with humans. They get struck by a boat’s propeller, tangled up in fishing lines, disoriented by human light sources.

Marathon and the Middle Keys - Photos by Neala

Grassy Key and the Dolphin Research Center

Grassy Key is home to the Dolphin Research Center. The name makes it sound stolid, perhaps boring, but there’s nothing dull about the dolphins or their protectors. Director Mandy Rodriguez, with his wife Jayne Shannon-Rodriguez and their staff, have been educating the public about dolphins since 1984. The DRC is currently home for 19 dolphins and 2 sea lions. Some of the dolphins were born here; others came to DRC from separate facilities for various reasons or were already living here when Jayne and Mandy began managing the center.

The public is invited to meet them all and learn each one's story. Visitors can swim with the dolphins as part of the dolphin encounter, watch them feed, leap and jump – showing off to the delight of children and adults-- and learn about the needs and abilities of these intelligent and gentle mammals. The programs include everything from playing with them, to being a researcher, to swimming in the pools. Link to examiner and DRC.

Food and Lodging

Florida Keys tourism has lots of suggestions. We stayed at Tranquility Bay Beach Resort and can certainly recommend it. It was like staying in a small water-side town, but one with all the amenities of a resort. The attached houses of two or three bedrooms are comfortable, fully-equipped and well-decorated. We also ate a really fine dinner in the Butterfly Café, topped off by the best Key Lime pie I had anywhere in the Keys. And try I did – every time it was offered.

For more information on the attractions and charms of the Keys visit FLA-Keys