The Entrance to Duck Key

  

Pictured above is an old illustration of the island community of Duck Key with the gateway entrance . The entranceway has undergone a number of changes over the past 50 years.

Another image of the entrance from 1960's promotional literature appears below:

 

A recent watercolor executed by artist Greg Sobran of the present entrance is portrayed below. The original of this watercolor scene may be seen at the Mariner Bank in the Duck Key Shopping Plaza. The Marine Bank has several of Artist Sobran's painting.

The original columns at the Overseas Highway Mile Marker 61 and Duck Key Drive entrance to the island were designed after the old city gates of St. Augustine. The tallest of the original Duck Key columns has been eliminated due to widening of the entranceway.

 

Picture of entrance gate to Duck Key in 1960s. Original wooden bridge is visible to the left.

Old Florida post card showing historic gateway to City of St. Augustine.

 

Image from old post card published by Jack Stark of Coral Gables with text, "Entrance to Duck Key. . . is through these iomposing gates patterned after old Spanish gates found throughout the Caribbean. Constructed of native copral rock keystone quarried near the area. . . ."

Upon entering the gates you arrive at the commercial section of Duck Key called Indies Island. Here is located the Hawk's Cay Resort and Marina, several condominiums, the villas of Hawk's Cay Village, the Duck Key Marina, Duck Key Botels, and Duck Inn plus a small business complex with a beauty salon, delicatessen, jewelry shop,realty business, bank, and offices.

The entrance to Duck Key has changed somewhat over the years due to road widening and bridge building. Pineapple ornamentation, a traditionally greeting symbol of welcome, can still be found at the top of the entry columns. A gateway entrance near the Hawk's Cay Inn also has pineapple ornamentation and three of the four gracefully arched bridges which join the residential islands of Duck Key also have a variety of pineapple ornamentation on bridge balustrades.

By crossing the island's several arched bridges, you arrive at the residential community with private homes located on Center, Plantation, Harbour, and Yacht Club Islands. The illustration at the top of this web page also shows the protective breakwater barrier which guards the island' s homes, boats, resort and navigation canal from Atlantic ocean storms.

 

 

 

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Duck Key, Florida 33050
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