The Key West Art & Historical Society is excited to offer a series of fun historical lectures entitled ‘Happy Hour with the Historian’.
Historian: Cori Convertito Ph.D.
Topic: Islands of Intrigue: Mafia Operations in Key West, South Florida, and Cuba
This lecture delves into the intriguing history of the Mafia’s presence and operations across South Florida, Key West, and Cuba from the early 20th century through the Cuban Revolution. Attendees will explore how organized crime capitalized on these regions’ strategic locations—serving as hubs for smuggling, gambling, and drug trafficking.
The talk will cover the rise of Mafia influence during Prohibition, when South Florida and Key West became vital points for rum-running and illicit trade. It will highlight Miami’s transformation into a gambling and narcotics hub, the role of Key West as a gateway for Caribbean smuggling, and the Mafia’s extensive involvement in Cuba’s casino scene under the Batista regime. Finally, the lecture will examine the impact of the Cuban Revolution, which abruptly ended decades of mob dominance on the island.
By tracing the intertwined histories of these regions, the lecture offers a compelling look at how organized crime shaped the economic and social fabric of the Caribbean and southern Florida.
Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts
- Date: December 11
- Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm
- Cost: $13.00 - $17.00
- Location: Comedy Key West
