This bronze statue by Tom Joris is a tribute to Bishop Albert Kee. For decades, he stood along the waterfront selling fish and blowing a conch shell at passing tourists. This tradition dates back to 1830 when arriving Bahamians were called Conchs. In 1982, Key West declared itself the Conch Republic when they claimed to secede from the U.S. If you are born in Key West, you can call yourself a Saltwater Conch. If you are a new resident, it takes seven years before you have the honor of becoming a Freshwater Conch.
