Cuban Chug Vessel

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Thousands of Cubans have crossed the Florida straits in chug boats and other vessels like this one. While many survived the crossing, others perished at sea. Those that survived often landed in the Florida Keys, but the Gulf Stream carried some vessels up the Florida coast to Miami and beyond. This chug was recovered from a crossing in 2021 that landed near the Southernmost Point buoy of Key West. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Border Patrol took them into custody. Explore the chug and the small things forgotten and left behind that help to tell the story of the people willing to risk such a crossing to freedom. The chug is displayed as part of Cuban Pathways: The Exhibition, at the Tampa Bay History Center.