An island icon, captain tonys saloon has an intriguing past one that includes murder, mystery, and even a bit of mayhem. Captain tonys saloon is rich in history, and an easy place to spend a few hours in the shade to escape the hot key west sun. Offered in encyclopedic form, each entry gives the common name of a particular location, the navajo name and history, and a description of the locations significance in various hillerman novels. The 10 best restaurants in key west updated may 2020. Around the streets of key west, youll hear as many legends of captain tonys saloon as there are about captain tony himself. Around key west, youll hear many legends of captain tonys saloon. Before becoming a popular watering hole, the building served a few different roles. Said to be the oldest bar in key west, what is now captain tonys saloon was the original sloppy joes bar. Immortalized in buffetts song last mango in paris, the revered saloon owner, gun runner, and mayor emuritus of key west, captain tony has lived a caribbean life on the edge of freewheeling spirit and adventure. Saloons served customers such as fur trappers, cowboys, soldiers, lumberjacks, businessmen, lawmen, miners and gamblers. Floridas oldest bar was once a morgue, complete with a hanging tree and gravestones.
Ernest hemingway, truman capote, shel silverstein, tennessee williams and the mayor of margaritaville himself, jimmy buffet, have all enjoyed a drink or 8 at captain tonys saloon in key west, fla. Capt tonys saloon the original sloppy joes and claiming to be the oldest bar in florida old town, key west, florida keys, usa b8abf7 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. The building housing captain tonys saloon has a history as colorful as the town of key west itself. Discover captain tonys saloon in key west, florida.
Tony hillerman is beloved for his novels of intrigue in the american southwest. Were sharing the stories that we like to think are equal parts history and. Captain tonys saloon key west, florida atlas obscura. A must on any key west itinerary, captain tonys saloon is not just the states oldest bar, but its also a piece of living history. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. In life lessons you learn of his harrowing life on the sea, secret spy exploits as a gunrunner during the cuban revolution, tales of the oldest bar in florida captain tonys saloon, being immortalized by his friend jimmy buffett in the song last mango in paris, and tonys family of. Most trips to key west involve a visit to its most famous bar on duval street, sloppy joes, but for those who would like a little literary history and. In order to save tonys marriage, his buddy dean martin suggests they lie to his wife about them being secret agents for the fbi and the kiss was in the line of duty. I just came across a posting in dick eastmans blog in which he was made aware of what are some incredible pictures from the civil war. History tells us that the one body recovered was lying in front of the building and was later buried beneath the building, surrounded by holy water, and enclosed by. Tonys quotes the american dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.
Tony thomas has been a professional writer for over 35 years. Welcome to the fan page for captain tonys saloon in key west, florida. Captain tonys saloon is the iconic key west bar that hemingway. In fact, an interesting feature of the bar is that when any celebrity visits, a barstool is added with that patrons name. He has written for mix, millimeter, avvideo, recording, electronic musician, cleveland scene and others. Tony curtis gets caught by his wife janet leigh being kissed by a young lady. In tony hillermans navajoland, laurance linford takes readers on a journey through the four corners region to the haunts of hillermans characters. This key west bar is an exmorgue with bodies still buried. It was an ice house, the city morgue, a wireless telegraph station, a cigar factory, a speakeasy and even a bordello. The famous key west local, captain tony, was a known storyteller and may have created many of these legends himself as he held court in the saloon every night. A western saloon is a kind of bar particular to the old west. Tony tarracino august 10, 1916 november 1, 2008, commonly called captain tony, was an american saloonkeeper, boat captain, politician, gambler, and storyteller in key west, florida. What the tourist guide books often fail to note when promoting the saloon is the fact that it was established in 1851 as an icehouse and morgue.
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