Before Key West became famous for sunset celebrations, colorful characters and tropical escapes, it was known for something else: cigars. In the late 1800s, Cuban tobacco, Cuban craftsmanship and Key West's location just 90 miles from Cuba helped turn the island into one of the nation's most important cigar-manufacturing centers.
That history is still woven into the streets of Old Town. Travelers arriving aboard Key West Express step ashore near the Historic Seaport, within easy reach of neighborhoods and landmarks shaped by the island's close relationship with Cuba.
