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Overseas Highway to Key West from Lower Matecumbe, Florida, circa 1940

Subjects
Beaches & CoastlinesBridges & Dams
Card type
Linen
Date
c. 1930 (White Border)
Front of Overseas Highway to Key West from Lower Matecumbe, Florida, circa 1940, Marie M. Miller, WA, USA, c. 1930 linen postcard
Front
Back of Overseas Highway to Key West from Lower Matecumbe, Florida, circa 1940, Marie M. Miller, WA, USA, c. 1930 linen postcard
Back

About this postcard

A long causeway of concrete arches carries the Overseas Highway across open blue water, seen from an elevated viewpoint on Lower Matecumbe Key looking southwest toward the distant keys. The road opened in 1938, reusing the bridges and roadbed of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway Key West Extension after that line was wrecked by the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, and it remained the only land route to Key West. The card's linen-era coloring emphasizes the sweep of the viaduct and the shallow green flats along the horizon.

Postcard Details

Message · English, in pen

This is the Ocean sea highway I love told you about our water at one place is 1 mile long it is very pretty to came over. Love me Darling please [illegible].

PublisherL. Valladares & Son
Oversea Highway to Key West, Florida, looking S. W. from lower Matecumbe 34 --- Built over the old Florida East Coast Railway viaducts, this engineering marvel, the New Overseas Highway, connects Key West to the mainland, thus eliminating a ferry gap of 20 miles, leaving traffic unimpeded. PUB. BY L. VALLADARES & SON, KEY WEST, FLORIDA TICHNOR QUALITY VIEWS REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. MADE ONLY BY TICHNOR BROS. INC. BOSTON, MASS. 67384
PostmarkedKey West, FL
Stamp
Addressed to
Marie M. Miller

Bremerton, WA

Postcard record

PostmarkedKey West, FL
PublisherL. Valladares & Son
Series34
ConditionVery good
Place addressedMarie M. Miller, Bremerton, WA
Stamp1c George Washington, green, perforated on all sides
NotesLinen-textured stock with a thin white border; card number 34 printed at upper right. Postmark: KEY WEST FLA. JUL 23 7 PM (plus a purple "JUL 29 46" handstamp at upper right). Linen-texture Tichnor view card, divided back, white border on front; 1¢ green Washington stamp; light edge/corner wear.

Cite this card

Overseas Highway to Key West from Lower Matecumbe, Florida, circa 1940, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/overseas-highway-to-key-west-from-lower-matecumbe-florida-ci. Accessed October 25, 2026.