Immerse Yourself! Prohibition and Rum Runners Lecture

The Florida Keys are full of stories. Brad Bertelli knows where to find them. For more than 25 years, Brad has been digging into the people, places, legends, and colorful characters that made the Keys what they are today. From pirates and shipwrecks to pioneers, hurricanes, hidden histories, and the quirky characters who called these islands home, Brad brings the past to life with curiosity, humor, and a storyteller’s eye. Brad’s mission is simple: find the stories, tell them with accuracy, and keep the history of the Florida Keys alive.

 

The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, transport, export, sale, or possession of alcoholic beverages in the United States. Congress passed the National Prohibition Act, written to enforce the 18th Amendment, in October 1919. The 18th Amendment took effect in late January 1920. The Prohibition years began, and shenanigans ensued. Join Brad as he explores Prohibition’s impact on the Florida Keys, rum-running, and an appearance or two by Al Capone.