Dry Tortugas National Park News
Showing the last 10 news releases. Click here to visit nps.gov's Dry Tortugas National Park - News section for more.
Brett Koch selected as chief ranger at Dry Tortugas and honored with the National Ranger Excellence Award for the Southeast Region
July 15, 2024 | 6:07 am
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.
Dry Tortugas National Park reopens campground and South Beach after moat dredging
April 25, 2024 | 4:34 pm
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.
National Park Service archeologists identify sunken British warship in Dry Tortugas National Park
March 14, 2024 | 3:00 pm
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.
Dry Tortugas National Park temporarily closes campground during dredging and moat wall repair
February 15, 2024 | 11:32 am
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.
Dry Tortugas National Park renews contract with Yankee Freedom for ferry service
November 15, 2023 | 2:30 pm
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.
Dry Tortugas National Park reopens after Hurricane Idalia
August 30, 2023 | 5:00 pm
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.
Dry Tortugas National Park Closes in Preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia
August 28, 2023 | 4:00 pm
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.
James Crutchfield selected as park manager for Dry Tortugas National Park
August 1, 2023 | 1:00 pm
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.
National Park archeologists find remains of underwater hospital and cemetery at Dry Tortugas
May 1, 2023 | 1:00 pm
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.
Dry Tortugas National Park has limited options for vessels landing on Garden Key during grouper season
April 24, 2023 | 11:05 am
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.