Explore the Cultural Riches of Marathon’s Crane Point

MARATHON, Florida Keys — Tucked away just off U.S. 1 in the center of Marathon is Crane Point, a culturally rich 63-acre oasis consisting of nature trails through extensive hammocks filled with native trees and plants, two historic homes and the Museum of Natural History. 

Crane Point’s earliest inhabitants were Native Americans. A prehistoric midden consisting of large shells has been documented on the site by the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy. 

The earliest known modern-day inhabitants were George and Olivia Adderley, Black Bahamians who purchased 32 acres of the area’s undeveloped land and established their homestead in the early 1900s. They built their home out of tabby, a homemade concrete created by burning oyster, conch and other seashells and then mixing the result with water, sand, ash and bits of shells. 

George Adderley invited several other Bahamian families to move there, where they lived a simple life among exotic tropical trees such as the lignumvitae. The now-endangered tree is only found in the Keys and its incredibly hard wood is so heavy it won’t float. 

The settlement became known as Adderley Town, with George serving as its Episcopal minister. The Adderleys’ tabby home, now the oldest home in the Keys outside of Key West, has been restored and today is a popular stop along the 1.2 miles of trails and walkways crisscrossing the hammock.  

Adderley sold the property in 1950 to Francis and Mary Crane, a wealthy conservationist couple who soon realized what a priceless purchase they had made. The Cranes vowed to protect the native hardwood forest and wetlands from the inroads of advancing civilization and development. 

The couple hired Miami architect Wahl Snyder, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, to design their home. Completed in 1954, the mid-century modern structure has recently been restored to its original splendor. 

The house is raised, with living quarters on the second level and both covered and open patios on the ground level. The interior features large windows with sweeping Gulf of Mexico views. These elements serve to bring the outside world into the home’s living area, a hallmark of Snyder’s architectural design style.

Interior design touches by artist and Crane Point board member Lynn Voit include restored friezes encircling the top of the library-den walls. The friezes honor the Great Pyrenees dogs the Cranes saved during World War II and brought to America, becoming the founders of the breed in the U.S. 

Now used to host special events, the home can be seen during guided tours of the entire Crane Point property — typically offered multiple times per day in the winter months and once daily during the summer, or by special request.

Near the front of the property is the wonderfully curated Museum of Natural History, where visitors can discover how Native Americans forged a living from the area, view a 600-year-old dugout canoe and remnants of pirate ships, and learn about the exploits of early explorers and pioneers. Visitors can also see exhibits about the natural world, including the endangered Key deer and sea turtles, and a walk-though coral reef habitat. 

Apart from the cultural gems located on the property, the meandering trails and boardwalks throughout Crane Point are a popular escape for those seeking to familiarize themselves with the many species of plants and trees native to the Keys, as well as those in search of quiet time in nature. 

The entire Crane Point property, acquired by the Florida Keys Land & Sea Trust in 1989, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places — fulfilling the Cranes’ original dream of preserving their personal sanctuary, filled with biodiversity and cultural significance, for the public to enjoy. 

For information, visit cranepoint.net.