THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
National Park Service archeologists have identified the original burial site of Private George Tupper, a 22-year-old U.S. Army soldier and the only known service member buried within the walls of Fort Jefferson on Garden Key.
Official NPS sourceFollowing the passing of Hurricane Helene, visitors to the South Florida National Parks and Preserve should continue to exercise caution with the potential for unidentified hazards on land and in park waters. Marine waters continue to be open in all locations, but parks are still assessing missing or damaged aids to navigation. Closures or special conditions are available on each park’s website under Alerts.
Official NPS source
Dry Tortugas National Park announced the selection of Brett Koch as chief ranger. His new role will include leading the law enforcement park rangers at one of the nation’s most remote national parks. Koch’s dedication to the National Park Service's (NPS) mission was recently recognized when he was selected as the Southeast Region’s National Ranger Excellence Award (previously the Harry Yount Award) recipient for 2023.
Official NPS source
On April 25, Dry Tortugas National Park reopened the campground as scheduled after dredging the Fort Jefferson moat and redistributing sand that had built up from several hurricanes.
Official NPS source
National Park Service archeologists identified the archeological remains of HMS Tyger, an 18th century British warship that sunk in 1742 after it ran aground on the reefs of the Dry Tortugas while on patrol in the War of Jenkins Ear between Britain and Spain.
Official NPS source
Dry Tortugas National Park announced that the dredging and moat wall repair project will begin on March 11 with a 45-day closure of the Garden Key Campground for the safety of park visitors.
Official NPS source
Dry Tortugas National Park announced the selection of Yankee Freedom III, Inc. to provide interpretive ferry service to the park. The new contract term, which begins Nov. 1, is for ten years and will provide daily ferry service to the park with departures from Key West.
Official NPS source
Dry Tortugas National Park will reopen on August 31 after the passage of Hurricane Idalia. Weather permitting, ferry and seaplane tours will also resume. Fort Jefferson, South Beach, and the campground on Garden Key are open.
Official NPS source
On Aug. 28 at 5 p.m., Dry Tortugas National Park will temporarily close for the safety of visitors and staff in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia. Concession-operated ferry and sea plane services are also temporarily suspended.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) announced today the selection of James Crutchfield as park manager of Dry Tortugas National Park. Crutchfield is joining the Dry Tortugas team from the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center, where he served as the monument section manager since February 2022.
Official NPS source
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.
Official NPS source
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.
Official NPS source