Tiny islands of Florida's Upper Keys are frozen in history.(The Seattle Times)

From: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service | Date: June 9, 2003| Author: Cantwell, Brian J. | Copyright information

Byline: Brian J. Cantwell

ISLAMORADA, Fla. _ Hop a shuttle boat to a pair of islands frozen in history: Lignumvitae and Indian keys, 77 miles north of Key West.

Both state parks are treasures of Florida natural history and political intrigue.

The past is all that's frozen on Lignumvitae ("LIG-num-VI-tee"). The man who invented the dye for blue jeans, William Matheson, built a house here in 1919, but almost never stayed in it. The place was too darn...