Our tiny island is so wealthy with historical past. And it reveals with the sheer variety of museums present in Key West. Right here is as complete listing as I may put collectively for these visiting and attention-grabbing in our island’s historical past.
Audubon Home and Gardens – 205 Whitehead Road – The museum was established in 1960 after Col. Wolfson restored the home initially constructed within the 1800s by Capt. John Geiger, key West’s very first harbor pilot. The vegetation that Geiger planted right here drew Audubon to go to the home in 1832, and lots of of his drawings are primarily based on these vegetation. The Home and gardens are open for excursions every day from 9:30 – 5.
Cayo Hueso y Habana Historeum – Mallory Sq. – Situated inside an outdated brick warehouse that was constructed round 1879. You’ll see outlets, shows, and odor the great Cuban meals of Pepe’s Casa Cayo Restaurant. Keep for dinner and drinks one evening; YUMMY! And you too can discover music and dancing within the evenings.
Ernest Hemingway Residence and Museum – 907 Whitehead Road – My favourite Key West museum; the home and the grounds are stunning and the present store has a whole lot of neat Hemingway books and trinkets for the Hemingway aficionado. You’ll be able to take a guided tour of the home which lasts about 30-minutes, and afterwards you possibly can roam the grounds for so long as you want. You’ll see loads of the famed six-toed cats lazing round. Open every day from 9 – 5.
Florida Keys Eco Discovery Middle – 35 Quay Street – This 6,000 sq. foot interactive exhibit features a 15 minute introductory film which explains the middle’s objective. There’s additionally a 2,500-gallon coral reef tank and duplicate of Aquarius, the world’s solely underwater ocean laboratory, which you’ll be able to stroll proper via.
Fort East Martello Museum and Gardens – 3501 S Roosevelt Boulevard – This Civil Battle period fort was by no means accomplished, nevertheless it now homes one of the crucial detailed histories of our island. There are additionally artwork displays from Stanley Papio and Mario Sanchez. This isn’t a typical Key West museum; it’s way more. Open every day from 9:30 – 4:30; closed on Christmas.
Fort Jefferson – Dry Tortugas – The one technique to get to this historic Civil Battle fort is by boat or seaplane. It lies 70 miles west of Key West. Apart from visiting the fort and taking a tour of this largest brick constructing within the Western Hemisphere, you possibly can swim, snorkel, and fowl watch. Plus you’ll have some phenomenal photograph ops.
Fort Zachary Taylor – 601 Howard England Approach – This Civil Battle fort is now a part of the State Park system. The park has a seashore, a restaurant, and nature trails along with the fort, which has narrated excursions every day. Open every day 8am – sunset. The fort closes at 5pm.
Key West Aquarium – 1 Whitehead Road – That is the smallest aquarium I’ve ever visited, however it is extremely attention-grabbing. There’s an alligator exhibit, a jellyfish exhibit, a contact tank, shark feedings, and the very cool Atlantic Shores exhibit which is a 50 thousand gallon saltwater tank displaying tropical fish, sport fish, sharks, and sea turtles in addition to purple mangroves. Open every day 10 – 6. Tour Occasions and shark feeding are at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 4:30pm.
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory – 1316 Duval Road – The conservatory is dwelling to an enormous array of vegetation to make the birds and butterflies that dwell right here comfy in a nature like setting. The training heart features a 15 minute movie that particulars the lifecycle of a butterfly and the partitions are coated with instructional details about these flying beauties. The gallery, Wings of Creativeness, shows tons of of several types of butterflies sealed in acrylic instances. The present store is stocked with objects that may make a butterfly lover’s desires come true. That is word solely an informative place to go to however the conservancy is really a stupendous and stress-free place to spend a while. Open every day from 9 – 5.
Key West Firehouse Museum – 1026 Grinnell Road – A non-profit group devoted to the restoration, preservation, and upkeep of Hearth Home No. 3 as an historic web site and museum devoted to the gathering, preservation, interpretation and exhibition of artifacts about firefighting within the Southernmost metropolis of Key West. Open Tuesday – Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum – 1 Whitehead Road – This can be a actually neat museum that mixes actors, movies, and artifacts to show guests all in regards to the wrecking operations in Key West from years in the past when the island was the wealthiest metropolis within the USA. There’s additionally a 65′ lookout tower to climb. Open every day from 9:40 – 5pm. (The final present begins at 4:40.)
Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters Museum – 938 Whitehead Road – Inbuilt 1847, this lighthouse is not in operation, however it’s nonetheless spectacular. You’ll be able to climb the 88 iron step round stairway when you dare. (I can not deliver myself to do it regardless that I do know the view can be superb!) Nice historical past and an exquisite instance of life in right here within the late 1800s and early 1900s. Open every day from 9:30 – 4:30; closed on Christmas.
Lofton B Sands African Bahamian Museum – 325 Julia Road – This Twenties home covers the historical past of the island’s African American inhabitants. Open every day 10 – 6. Admission is free.
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum – 200 Greene Road – Fisher was a neighborhood movie star that earned world-wide fame when his crew discovered the Spanish galleon Atocha and an enormous treasure with it. The museum has many artifacts from the discover in addition to a movie about Mel and underwater treasure looking. Open every day: weekdays from 8:30 – 5 and weekends from 9:30 – 5.
Museum of Artwork and Historical past on the Customized Home – 281 Entrance Road – This constructing was constructed in 1891 and served as a submit workplace and a courtroom home, ultimately being deserted till the town restored it to its current glory. The displays listed here are at all times altering, so test it out each time you go to Key West for extra island historical past and superb arts shows. Open every day from 9:30 – 4:30; closed on Christmas.
Oldest Home and Gardens – 322 Duval Road – This isn’t solely the oldest home in Key West; it’s the oldest home in all of South Florida! Docents can be found to reply questions in regards to the property and the household that constructed it. The home itself is filled with the unique furnishings, outdated paperwork, and household portraits. Behind the home if am superb backyard and the one surviving Prepare dinner Home is South Florida. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 – 4. Admission is free!
Sails to Rails Museum – 901 Caroline Road – Inside this reconstruction of the Key West prepare station is a themed mercantile loaded with candies, railroad memorabilia, and lots of different period souvenirs. Previous the store is the museum. Three movies in regards to the railroad could be seen. And a historical past teller will discuss lifetime of a railroad employee.
San Carlos Institute – 516 Duval Road – This museum homes a analysis library that paperwork Key West’s Cuban inhabitants. There’s additionally an artwork gallery, and way more on this magnificent constructing. Open Friday – Sunday from midday – 6. Admission is Free.
Tennessee Williams Museum – 513 Truman Avenue – This exhibit opened in 2017 paperwork Williams’s time in Key West. It consists of an enormous assortment of pictures, first editions of his works, private artifacts, and an archive of periodical articles about him.
Truman Little White Home – 111 Entrance Road – This home was in-built 1890 and served because the command headquarters throughout the Spanish American Battle. After its conversion to a single household home it has hosed a number of well-known folks together with Thomas Edison. President Harry Truman, President Dwight Eisenhower, and JFK. The constructing was named for Truman in 1973 after his dying since he visited the property a number of instances following his presidential profession. Open every day 9 – 4:30.
Turtle Kraals – 200 Margaret Road – This was as soon as the situation of dockside “kraals” the place captured sea turtles have been stored earlier than being slaughtered and processed into soup. The ocean turtle inhabitants was nearly decimated by the Nineteen Seventies. In 1971 the turtle commerce was out of enterprise with the passing of the species safety type the Endangered Species Act. Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am till 4pm. TEMPORARILY CLOSED
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum & Nationwide Historic Landmark – With over 50 years of service, USCGC INGHAM is a portrait of United States Coast Guard historical past from 1936 to 1988. CGC INGHAM is positioned on the Truman Waterfront on the western fringe of Key West, alongside USS MOHAWK (CGC). Open Tuesday via Saturday from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm.
West Martello Tower Museum – Atlantic Boulevard / Higgs Seaside – This Civil Battle fort is now a backyard of eden with many sorts of tropical vegetation blended in with historic gun mounts. Open every day from 9:30 – 5.
For extra details about issues to do and see in our island metropolis, go to our Key West Net Website. You can even go to our Key West Occasions Calendar to see upcoming particular occasions.
And for extra restaurant evaluations take a look at our restaurant assessment part of this weblog in addition to our restaurant evaluations at www.gotothekeys.com.
Island Genn – Your Key West Concierge
