Mel Fisher Days to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Key West Shipwreck Find
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Shipwreck fans, treasure seekers and history buffs can commemorate the 30th anniversary of salvager Mel Fisher's discovery of the sunken Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha Thursday through Sunday, July 9-12, in the island city closest to the fabled wrecksite.
Fisher and his crew uncovered the $500 million "main pile" of the Atocha's treasure and artifacts in July 1985 after an exhaustive 16-year search. The galleon sank during a 1622 hurricane in approximately 55 feet of water 35 miles southwest of Key West.
Mel Fisher Days highlights include tours of the salvage boat J.B. Magruder that is used to seek still-undiscovered Atocha artifacts, exclusive explorations of the Fishers' conservation lab, chances to hear tales from the crew that found the Atocha riches and a land-based treasure hunt whose prize is $5,000 in silver dollars.
The fun begins with a dock party at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 9, at the Schooner Wharf Bar, 202 William St. in Key West's Historic Seaport. The 100-foot Magruder is to be berthed there and open for tours guided by Fisher crewmembers, who will share tales of salvage practices and treasure finds.
Thursday and Friday's schedule includes limited-admission behind-the-scenes tours of the Fisher family's private conservation laboratory, 200 Greene St. (side entrance), where rare Atocha artifacts and treasures are conserved and studied.
Festival attendees can seek bounty of their own during the Amazing Mel Fisher Treasure Hunt, where teams follow clues and solve riddles while competing for a chest filled with silver dollars. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, with the hunt following at 7 p.m.
From noon to 10 p.m. Saturday a "rockin' block party" celebrating the late Fisher's legacy is set for the 200 and 300 blocks of Key West's Duval Street. Attractions include food booths, a classic car show, a silent auction with "plunder," games for kids and adults and a free concert featuring popular regional bands. VIP passes are available providing admission to a private party with headlining band Sueñalo, Fisher family members and the crew that found the Atocha's main pile.
Other 30th anniversary events include a pirate ball and a showing of rare archival footage including interviews with the crew that made the historic 1985 discovery.
One hundred percent of net festival proceeds benefit the Florida Keys' Wesley House Family Services Inc.
Event information and registration: melfisherdays.com
Key West visitor information: fla-keys.com/keywest
or 1-800-LAST-KEY
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Festival attendees can seek bounty of their own during the Amazing Mel Fisher Treasure Hunt, where teams follow clues and solve riddles while competing for a chest filled with silver dollars, valued at $5,000.
VIP tours of the Fisher family's conservation labs are available only during Mel Fisher Days.