Jones Family Historic District, historic district in the Biscayne National Park, Florida, United States
The Jones Family Historic District sits on two small islands, Porgy Key and Totten Key, within Biscayne National Park. The area includes former homes, farm buildings, and land where the family grew fruits, vegetables, pineapples, and lime trees.
Israel Lafayette Jones purchased Porgy Key in 1897 and built a successful farm there. After a major storm damaged many pineapple farmers, he acquired Totten Key and shifted focus to lime cultivation, while his family later sold part of the land to the government in 1970.
The district tells the story of an African-American family who achieved success despite facing major obstacles in the early 1900s. The preserved buildings and farming areas show today how the Joneses built their life on the islands and stayed deeply connected to the water.
The district lies in a quiet section of Biscayne National Park and is best reached by boat. Visitors should expect flat, open terrain with water all around and potentially windy conditions.
Lancelot Jones, one of the family's sons, was a well-known guide who fished with Presidents Herbert Hoover and Lyndon Johnson. He was allowed to live in the family home for the rest of his life, bridging the early island history with the modern era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
