Stretching east along U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) from Key Vaca to Grassy Key, the city of Marathon is the largest settlement along the Overseas Highway between Key Largo and Key West. The community began as a railroad depot along the Florida East Coast Railroad. The name replaced Knight's Key on October 1, 1908, and relates to the accelerated or "marathon" speed and longevity of the construction work related in building the railroad west to Key West.1
Incorporated in 1999, Marathon lines U.S. 1 from the east end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the west end of the Toms Harbors Bridge, a distance of approximately 13 miles. This includes Boot, Knight, Hog, Vaca, Stirrup, Crawl, Little Crawl, Deer, Fat Deer, Long Pine and Grassy Keys in addition to East and West Sister's Islands.2
|
| U.S. 1 northbound ascends onto the Seven Mile Bridge from Little Duck Key. The two lane span is by far the longest bridge along the Overseas Highway. 10/17/20 |
|
| The original Seven Mile Bridge was constructed from 1908 to 1912 as a railroad bridge. It was modified for automobiles and operated at a toll bridge from 1938 to 1954.2 The remnant bridge is partially a fishing pier. 01/13/02 |
|
| Tiny Money Key lies just south of the Seven Mile Bridge beyond Pacet Channel. 10/17/20 |
|
| The Old Seven Mile Bridge and a transmission line parallel the north side of U.S. 1 from ahead of Money Key Channel east to Knight Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| Construction of the Seven Mile Bridge commenced in 1979. The span opened to traffic on May 24, 1982.3 10/17/20 |
|
| Molasses Key rises between Money Key Channel and Moser Channel south of the Seven Mile Bridge. 05/07/06 |
|
| Despite narrow shoulders, passing is permitted along portions of the Seven Mile Bridge. 10/17/20 |
|
| The Seven Mile Bridge crests over Moser Channel. Part of the Intracoastal Waterway, Moser Channel flows between Molasses Key and Pigeo Key Banks from Florida Bay to the open waters of the Florida Straits. 10/17/20 |
|
| The Old Seven Mile Bridge continues north of U.S. 1 to Pigeon Key. Maintained by the Pigeon Key Foundation, Pigeon Key is a small island with a handful of structures. Severed to the west, the old bridge remains in use east to connect Pigeon Key with Knight Key via shuttle or on foot.2 10/17/20 |
|
| With a legacy as a work camp in 1912 for construction of the Florida East Coast Railroad, Pigeon Key is on the National Register of Historic Places. The island was purchased by the state on November 9, 1936, a year after the Labor Day Hurricane destroyed much of the Florida East Coast Railroad.2 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 continues east across Knight Key Channel toward Knight Key and Marathon. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) north enters the city of Marathon at Knight Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| Knights Key Boulevard acts as a frontage road for U.S. 1 to the businesses and residences on Knight Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| The Pigeon Key National Historic District Visitor Center is located on the north side of U.S. 1 by 20th Street. 20th Street (former CR 931) spurs south to a dead end at Boot Key Harbor. Part of the original Overseas Highway, a draw bridge linking Vaca Key and Boot Key formerly spanned the waterway along CR 931. 10/17/20 |
|
| The first in a series of traffic lights in Marathon on U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) operates at 33rd Street adjacent to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) station. 33rd Street spurs north to a boat ramp on Florida Bay. 10/17/20 |
|
| Confirming marker for U.S. 1 north posted ahead of 41st Street in Marathon. 10/17/20 |
|
| An array of retail and fast food lines Overseas Highway midway across Key Vaca and Marathon. 10/17/20 |
|
| Formerly the eastern branch of County Road 931, Sombrero Beach Boulevard represents the next section of the original Overseas Highway along an arc from Sister Creek and the Tingler Island area north to U.S. 1. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) advances east from Sombrero Beach Boulevard (old CR 931) to Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (MTH). 10/17/20 |
|
| 107th Street stems north from U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) to an industrial park area along the east side of Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (MTH) and Aviation Boulevard southeast of Stirrup Key.. 10/17/20 |
|
| 109th Street spurs north from U.S. 1 by a shopping center to a neighborhood along Florida Bay. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 ascends across Vaca Cut east to Crawl Keys. 10/17/20 |
|
| Continuing east across Fat Deer Key, Overseas Highway reaches Layton in 15 miles and Islamorada in 28 miles. 10/17/20 |
|
| Sadowski Causeway spurs south from U.S. 1 on Crawl Key Number Two to Key Colony Beach. Sadowski Causeway derives its name from developer Phillip Sadowski, who in the 1950s with John Puto began building the Marathon Shores and Little Venice areas. Key Colony Beach also developed in the 1950s on Shelter Key. The community incorporated in 1957.3 10/17/20 |
|
| Coco Plum Drive leads south and east from Fat Deer Key to residences along Cocoa Plum Beach. This is the last traffic light along U.S. 1 northbound in Marathon. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 travels across Curry Hammock State Park on Fat Deer Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| Curry Hammock constitutes stands of mangrove trees and palms along a group of small islands east of the built up area in Marathon. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 lines a causeway east from Crawl Key onto Grassy Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| Leaving Grassy Key, Overseas Highway spans Toms Harbor Channel east toward Duck Key and Walkers Island. 10/17/20 |
|
| The old Overseas Highway bridge across Toms Harbor Channel parallels the south side of U.S. 1. 05/07/06 |
|
| U.S. 1 traverses a causeway just north of Duck Key by mile marker 61. Forthcoming Duck Key Drive is the lone access point to Duck Key. A wooden bridge was built between Overseas Highway and Duck Key in 1952. Costing $1 million to build, a more permanent causeway opened on January 2, 1953.4 10/17/20 |
|
| Bryan W. Newkirk, a financier and mining executive, purchased Duck Key in 1954 for $4 million in an effort to convert the land into a 400 acre island village. In order to fulfill his ambitions, the island was expanded by several acres with fill, and divided into five separate islands (Indies, Centre, Harbour, Plantation and Yacht Club islands) all separated by canals.4 05/07/06 |
|
| Toms Harbor Cut separates Duck Key and Walkers Island. Newkirk oversaw the development of Duck Key, which prospered as a resort community, until 1983. Hawk's Cay Village was built on the island in the mid 1990s, bringing a total of approximately 400 homes along with a wide array of recreational facilities on the island.4 05/07/06 |
|
| The Overseas Highway bridge across Toms Harbor Cut was built in 1980. 10/17/20 |
|
| Conch Avenue spurs northward into a small residential area on Conch Key. The 16-acre island was used as a construction camp site during the building of the Florida East Coast Railway. 10/17/20 |
|
| 2.3 miles in length, the Long Key Viaduct leads U.S. 1 eastward from Conch Key to Long Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| 2.3 miles in length, the Long Key Viaduct leads U.S. 1 eastward from Conch Key to Long Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| The original concrete span of Overseas Highway parallels along the south side of the Long Key Viaduct. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 continues onto Long Key ahead of two condominium communities. 10/17/20 |
|
| Long Key State Park spreads across western reaches of Long Key. Established on October 1, 1969, the state park provides canoeing, hiking, camping, and fishing for area visitors. Originally a fishing resort called Long Key home, but that was destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 northbound at the incorporated city of Layton on Long Key. The community consists of seven streets and was home to 210 residents as of the 2020 census. Named for Miamans Mary and Del Layton and their local fish camp, the village incorporated on September 18, 1963.5 10/17/20 |
|
| Leaving Layton, U.S. 1 runs alongside Long Key Bight on the ensuing stretch. Islamorada is another 12 miles followed by the census designated place of Tavernier in 21 miles. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 bends southeasterly from Fiesta Key to Craig Key over the Channel No. 5 Bridge. 10/17/20 |
|
| U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) lowers from the Channel No. 5 Bridge onto tiny Craig Key. 10/17/20 |
|
| Founded by R.W. Craig in the 1930s as a small fish camp, Craig Key represents the landfall location for the eye of the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. There a record low barometric pressure of 26.35 inches of mercury was recorded. 10/17/20 |
|
| Northbound reassurance marker posted at Craig Key. Channel No. 2 separates the small island from Lower Matecumbe Key to the east. 10/17/20 |
Page Updated 08-08-2024.
North
