History of the Conch Republic

The Conch Republic (also known as Key West and the Florida Keys) was founded in 1982 when the U.S. Border Patrol set up a checkpoint at the Last Chance Saloon in Florida City.

A seventeen mile traffic jam immediately ensued as the Border Patrol stopped every car leaving the Keys supposedly searching for illegal drugs and aliens who could be hiding under the front seats, in glove compartments, and in trunks.

The media starting reporting on the unprecedented action of the Border Patrol in setting up a border checkpoint within the United States, itself (after all, most everyone believed that the Florida Keys were indeed part of the United States!) As the stories of the traffic jam poured out across the nation and the world, visitors started canceling reservations to come to the Keys.

Community leaders started to gather around Mayor Dennis Wardlow to decide what to do. The very lifeblood of a budding tourism industry was threatened and Secessionist talk was bubbling up in each discussion. At and at the urging of Dave Horan, the legal route was chosen as the first alternative and an injunction was filed against the governmentâ's action in Federal Court in Miami.
The court essentially refused to enjoin the Border patrol from treating the Keys like a foreign country. When the Key West delegation left the courthouse, they were met by a gaggle of the world press asking "What are you going to do, Mr. Mayor?" and Mayor Wardlow replied "We are going to go home and secede" and thus the Conch Republic was born.

Meanwhile, federal agents started pouring into town and in the media frenzy that followed the checkpoint was quietly removed. Mayor Wardlow was named Prime Minister and immediately declared war on the United States. The schooner Western Union attacked a Coast Guard Cutter in the harbor with stale Cuban bread and Conch Fritters; and immediately following this Great Sea Battle, Prime Minister Wardlow surrendered, demanded foreign aid from the United States (we are still waiting for the foreign aid!) Thus, the plucky little Conch Republic was born.

History of the Conch Republic Navy

Immediately following the formation of the Conch Republic, the Conch Navy was set up and Wilhemina Harvey was appointed Admiral and First Sea Lord of the Conch Republic. She in turn appointed Captain Finbar Gittelman to serve as Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral and Second Sea Lord.

In 1990 Captain Finbar, owner and master of the topsail schooner Wolf (which serves as the Flagship of the Conch Republic) decided it was time to recreate the Great Sea Battle. With the support of the Coast Guard Group Key West, the Office of the Secretary General and Schooner Wharf Bar; the re-enactment of the colorful Great Sea Battle is held each April (usually the last Friday of the month) in conjunction with the Annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration.

In 2005 Finbar was promoted to Admiral and First Sea Lord and Captain Reef Perkins was appointed Vice Admiral and Second Sea Lord. The Conch Republic Admiralty also boasts Vice Admiral Peter Anderson (who also serves as Secretary General of the Conch Republic) and Rear Admiral Frank Holden.

Each April the citizens of the Conch Republic don their battle gear for the GREAT BATTLE - held during the Conch Republic celebration. Featured on the Discovery's Travel Channel and the Travel Channel, the battle pits Tall Ships against Coast Guard Cutters for the biggest & baddest Sea Battle held annually anywhere in the world !

As Admiral and First Sea Lord of the Conch Republic Navy, Finbar (along with Vice Admiral Perkins and Rear Admiral Holden) presides over the strategy for this "Bloody Battle" and has brought victory to the Conch Republic each year. A true food fight at sea, the battle is fought each year in the harbor of Key West against the invading Federal Ships (represented by vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard

Each year, after the Battle Awards Ceremony held at Schooner Wharf Bar, Admiral Finbar ceremoniously accepts surrender from the invader's Commander and the graciously invite the Federal invaders to join in the celebration of the Victory of the Battle !