Keys Heritage

“Keys Heritage” by ceramic artist Pam Hobbs tells the story of Marathon and the Middle Keys through the enduring medium of hand-glazed tile. The mosaic spans twelve feet across the courthouse’s main entrance wall, presenting a panoramic narrative that unfolds chronologically from left to right.

The composition begins with the native Calusa people and the earliest European explorers, moves through the remarkable engineering feat of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad, and continues through the commercial fishing and shrimping era that defined Marathon’s identity for much of the twentieth century. The final panels depict the modern Keys community, with images of bridges, boats, and the diverse cultural life that characterizes the islands today.

Hobbs created more than three thousand individual ceramic tiles for the project, each hand-glazed in a palette drawn from the natural colors of the Middle Keys landscape. The installation process took six weeks and involved a team of specialized tile setters working under the artist’s direct supervision. The mosaic’s durable materials ensure it will withstand decades of exposure to the subtropical climate while maintaining its vivid color and detail.