DRIVE YOUR CAR TO HAVANA

From March of 1956 through October of 1962, travelers could drive their cars onto the City of Havana at Stock Island and, seven hours later, drive off the ship in Havana. A terminal, port and channel had been constructed at Safe Harbor for more than a million dollars by the West India Fruit & Steamship Company. "West India Fruit" was merely the latest incarnation of the long list of companies going back to Henry Flagler, and they referred to the ferry service as "an extension of U.S. Highway 1" much the same as earlier (Flagler) steamships served as an extension of the (Flagler) railroad.

This brochure assured prospective travelers that "all passenger accommodations, including lounge, snack bar, beverage bar and staterooms, have been air conditioned." The 472-foot long ship had accommodations for 500 passengers, 125 automobiles and eight railroad cars. Round trip fare from Key West was $23.50 per person, with a charge of $76 per car. Staterooms could be reserved at a rate of $10 per room each way. Special travel packages were available, including four- or five-night stays complete with sightseeing and nightlife tours. There were three weekly departures from Key West and three from Havana.

It was politics that killed the ferry service in 1962. With diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba coming to an end, the ferry was filled that final month with families and employees of the U.S. Embassy. The last trip out, made on October 31, carried 287 passengers 232 of whom were citizens of Cuba possessing U.S. residence permits. The remainder consisted of personnel of the Office of American States and the State Department. Of the 86 automobiles on board, the majority belonged to the American Embassy.

(Left) These are those cars.