A chart of the Dry Tortugas drawn for the U.S. Navy Department in 1829 shows the key at its present location.

The site of Fort Jefferson, construction of which was started in 1846. Also the site of a lighthouse which was established in 1825 . In referring to the above lighthouse, J.W. Norie, in his Piloting Directions for the Gulf of Florida, the Bahama Banks, and Islands (1828) notes that it is described in a publication of 1826 as being located on Garden Kay. He observes that "There is not any kay of this name in Mr. Gauld's survey of the Tortugas; it may probably be the same that he has called Bush Kay."