Asa Tift was the most notable salvager in Key West, Florida

Key West, Florida

Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...

 in the early 19th century. He owned a large salvaging operation, parts of which can still be seen as the Key West Shipwreck Historeum Museum

Key West Shipwreck Historeum Museum

The Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum is located at 1 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida, United States. It combines actors, films and actual artifacts to tell the story of 400 years of shipwreck salvage in the Florida Keys. The museum itself is a re-creation of a 19th century warehouse built...

 (where tourists are shown around by an actor portraying Asa Tift).

He was also responsible for the building of the Ernest Hemingway House

Ernest Hemingway House

The Ernest Hemingway House, officially known as the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, was the residence of author Ernest Hemingway in Key West, Florida, United States. It is located at 907 Whitehead Street, near a prominent lighthouse close to the Southern coast of the island. On November 24, 1968,...

in Key West.

During the Civil War, Asa and his brothers financed a ship to be built for the Confederates in Mobile, Alabama. After the North’s victory at Vicksburg, Nelson and Asa decided to blow up the ship rather than let it be captured by the Northern forces.

He was also the brother of Nelson Tift (founder of Albany, Georgia).