DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK
Artist in Residence Program

Loggerhead Key, the “uninhabited” paradise
isle steeped in historical significance and mystery

2025 Residencies COMING SOON

$4,000 Stipend

COMING SOON

This is a truly unique experience! The National Park Artists team will spend a month virtually alone in the historical lighthouse keeper’s house on an islet with all sorts of tropical flora and fauna, including endangered Loggerhead turtle nesting grounds. Open to all artists, writers musicians or performance artists.

Loggerhead Key, the “uninhabited” paradise isle seeped in historical significance and mystery.

Loggerhead Key is the largest island of the Dry Tortugas. Covering about 49 acres, it is the site of the Loggerhead lighthouse, constructed in 1857. The Loggerhead Key lighthouse is now being restored and the isle is known or the iconic Carnegie Marine Biological Laboratory (1904-1939). It was also formerly the location of the “Tortugas Laboratory”, built and operated by the Carnegie Research Institute, for tropical research, from 1904 until 1939.

Loggerhead Key is known for its picturesque blue waters, Loggerhead turtles, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of birdlife that frequent the area.

NPAF’s past artists in residence at Dry Tortugas National Park include Carter McCormick & Paula Sprenger whose National Park inspired films are on Amazon Prime and receiving very high praise, Anna Glynn and Peter Dalmazzo, The Flying Tortuga Brothers, and Julie and Matthew Chase-Daniel, who wrote a book, THE BLUE FOLD, about their experience on Loggerhead Key during and after Hurricane Irma and many others.

Dry Tortugas National Park is located almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West. The 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Loggerhead Key is only accessible by boat or seaplane, which is provided for the artists. Visitors to the rest of the park, enjoy camping, snorkeling, bird watching, fishing or just enjoying a view from the top of massive Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson is the largest all-masonry fort in the United States, built between 1846 and 1875 to protect the nation's gateway to the Gulf of Mexico.

More information about the Dry Tortugas National Park can be found on the park website at: (For Park Information Only, please do not contact the park about Artist in Residency questions. For questions about the AIR, please contact NPAF. )

DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK WEBSITE