Old Bahia Honda Bridge — Attraction in Stock Island

This bridge is sadly rusting away in a former shell of what it once was. However, it is incredibly historic as it was part of the Key West Extension that brought rail service to Key West and was the footings of the modern-day Florida Keys that I love. The sheer size of the structure is impressive especially when you consider the time which it was built. One other cool feature I would recommend all others viewing the site is to look at the top of the structure when one of the most interesting features you will find in the wake of the Key West Extension. It is the original road for U.S. Highway One which was built to restore commerce to the Keys after the effects of the Labor Day Hurricane that left the railroad extension in ruins and killed hundreds of civilians and World War One veterans working on the railway near Upper Matecumbe Key. Overall, I find it to be a sight worth seeing if you are interested in railways, roadways, or infrastructure in general. I myself dream of a distant world where rail service is restored to the Florida Keys in a strictly tourist...

Serene and beautiful. We walked along the water's edge. An iguana surprised me, hidden among the rubble, but he kept his distance (:

We have enjoyed the beach at Bahia Honda in the past and it was nice to see the old train bridge from the other side. There is a pull-off available from Highway 1 and you can park near the highway or closer to the water.

Florida East Coast Railway History: Developed by Henry Flagler (Founder of Standard Oil) Completed in 1912 During 7 years of construction, three hurricanes hit (1906, 1909 & 1910), threatening to stop the project. A Cat 5 Hurricane hit on Labor Day in 1935. The conductor tried to help with evacuations. Hundreds boarded the train which was then hit by 200 mph winds and knocked off the tracks. More than 400 died in this hurricane. The Florida East Coast Railway was financially unable to rebuild the destroyed sections. According to Standiford (2002), the railroad was hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" (Last Train to Paradise).

A great spot to stop and...

This is a very special place on the planet. I was speechless for its 360 degree beauty. I just can’t come up with adjectives to describe the beauty of it. Hope my photos and video clips somewhat capture what I witnessed.

The old broken bridge was built more than 100 years ago, I was informed. I just can’t imagined how that was humanly possible. I applaud the brave soul who attempted this massive project more than a century ago.

I was mistakenly assumed that the project was funded by a Japanese institution because of the name HONDA. But a quick search taught me that HONDA means deep in Spanish. Bahia Honda means ‘deep bay’ in...