Key West, Florida Wyland Whaling Wall 52

History of the Key West, Florida Wyland Whaling Wall 52

-Florida’s Living Reef

Whaling wall 52

Key West, Florida, is home to Wyland’s “Florida’s Living Reef” mural, a celebration of the state’s vibrant and iconic coral reef system. This mural reflects the beauty and fragile nature of Florida’s coral reefs— the only remaining living coral barrier reef within the continental United States. By 1993, the year that legend Captain Tony dedicated the mural, the reef was already facing pressures from pollution, early stress from changing climate, and an abundance of complications from overfishing from increasing tourism in the area. Conservation remains a constant battle, but Key West continues to address the issue of sustainability, while connecting visitors to its marine ecosystems. These complex pressures are just one of the factors that inspired the Wyland Foundation to expand its education mission. Human actions, particularly those present in Florida’s watersheds, have a direct influence on the health of the various reef systems throughout the state. This message is clear in Wyland’s mural with its vibrant depiction of coral and marine life that this fragile beauty could easily be lost if the reefs are not protected. Clean water stands at the forefront of this mission, and initiatives like the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center and the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation tirelessly draw attention to that fact.

Did You Know?

One of the largest marine protected areas in the United States can be found in Florida’s Key West, but even an area under protection can be vulnerable to environmental challenges and degradation if conservation efforts are ignored. Florida’s coral reef is 360 miles long and stretches from the Dry Tortugas, near the Key West, to the St. Lucie Inlet. Despite its size, this living reef has lost more than 50% of its coral cover since 1970, due to coral bleaching, disease, and pollution.

It all comes down to clean water. “Florida’s Living Reef” reminds us that what we do upstream,often hundreds of miles from the ocean, from agricultural runoff to coastal pollution, can have significant impact our delicate coral reefs. All of Wyland’s murals, along with the Wyland Foundation’s arts and science programs, are designed to work together to generating awareness around the protection of marine life for years to come.

The Waterfront Market
201 Williams St.
Key West, Florida
52 Feet Long x 45 Feet High
Dedicated September 27th, 1993
By Captain Tony

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