Happy Hour with the Historian | Key West at War: How a Sleepy Naval Station Became a World War II Powerhouse

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: Key West at War: How a Sleepy Naval Station Became a World War II Powerhouse

When the United States entered World War II, the naval station at Key West was a shadow of its former self. Yet within months, the island was transformed into a critical wartime base supporting anti-submarine patrols, destroyer operations, naval aviation, and ship repair across the Atlantic and Caribbean. This presentation traces the rapid wartime expansion of the base—its growing fleet presence, new aviation facilities, massive increases in land and personnel, and the establishment of the Navy’s sonar training school, which played a key role in defeating German U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic. Through maps, photos, and stories, we’ll explore how Key West became an essential link in America’s naval war effort.