Our tiny island is so wealthy with historical past. And it exhibits with the sheer variety of museums present in Key West. Right here is as complete checklist as I might 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 crops that Geiger planted right here drew Audubon to go to the home in 1832, and plenty of of his drawings are primarily based on these crops. The Home and gardens are open for excursions each day from 9:30 – 5.
Cayo Hueso y Habana Historeum – Mallory Sq. – Positioned inside an previous brick warehouse that was constructed round 1879. You’ll see outlets, shows, and scent the fantastic Cuban meals of Pepe’s Casa Cayo Restaurant.  Keep for dinner and drinks one evening; YUMMY! And you may also discover music and dancing within the evenings.
Ernest Hemingway Dwelling and Museum – 907 Whitehead Road – My favourite Key West museum; the home and the grounds are lovely and the present store has quite a 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 each day from 9 – 5.
Florida Keys Eco Discovery Middle – 35 Quay Highway – 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 by.
Fort East Martello Museum and Gardens – 3501 S Roosevelt Boulevard – This Civil Struggle period fort was by no means accomplished, nevertheless it now homes  some of the detailed histories of our island. There are additionally artwork reveals from Stanley Papio and Mario Sanchez. This isn’t a typical Key West museum; it’s rather more. Open each day from 9:30 – 4:30; closed on Christmas.
Fort Jefferson – Dry Tortugas – The one technique to get to this historic Civil Struggle fort is by boat or seaplane. It lies 70 miles west of Key West. In addition to visiting the fort and taking a tour of this largest brick constructing within the Western Hemisphere, you possibly can swim, snorkel, and hen watch. Plus you’ll have some phenomenal picture ops.
Fort Zachary Taylor – 601 Howard England Method – This Civil Struggle 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 each day. Open each 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 vitally 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 pink mangroves. Open each day 10 – 6. Tour Instances and shark feeding are at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 4:30pm.
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory – 1316 Duval Road – The conservatory is house to an enormous array of crops to make the birds and butterflies that dwell right here comfy in a nature like setting. The educational middle features a 15 minute movie that particulars the lifecycle of a butterfly and the partitions are coated with academic details about these flying beauties. The gallery, Wings of Creativeness, shows lots of of various kinds of butterflies sealed in acrylic circumstances. The present store is stocked with gadgets that can make a butterfly lover’s goals come true. That is be aware solely an informative place to go to however the conservancy is actually a phenomenal and stress-free place to spend a while. Open each day from 9 – 5.
Key West Firehouse Museum – 1026 Grinnell Road – A non-profit group devoted to the restoration, preservation, and upkeep of Fireplace 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 – It is 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 each 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 now 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’t convey myself to do it regardless that I do know the view can be superb!) Nice historical past and a beautiful instance of life in right here within the late 1800s and early 1900s. Open each day from 9:30 – 4:30; closed on Christmas.
Lofton B Sands African Bahamian Museum – 325 Julia Road – This Nineteen Twenties home covers the historical past of the island’s African American inhabitants. Open each day 10 – 6. Admission is free.
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum – 200 Greene Road – Fisher was an area superstar 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 searching. Open each 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 publish workplace and a courtroom home, ultimately being deserted till town restored it to its current glory. The reveals listed here are at all times altering, so test it out each time you go to Key West for extra island historical past and nice arts shows. Open each 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 stuffed with the unique furnishings, previous 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 practice station is a themed mercantile loaded with candies, railroad memorabilia, and plenty of different period souvenirs. Previous the store is the museum. Three movies in regards to the railroad might 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 rather 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 images, 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 through the Spanish American Struggle. After its conversion to a single household home it has hosed a number of well-known individuals 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 each day 9 – 4:30.
Turtle Kraals – 200 Margaret Road – This was as soon as the placement of dockside “kraals” the place captured sea turtles have been saved earlier than being slaughtered and processed into soup. The ocean turtle inhabitants was virtually decimated by the Nineteen Seventies. In 1971 the turtle commerce was out of enterprise with the passing of the species safety kind 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 by Saturday from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm.
West Martello Tower Museum – Atlantic Boulevard / Higgs Seaside – This Civil Struggle fort is now a backyard of eden with many varieties of tropical crops combined in with historic gun mounts. Open each day from 9:30 – 5.
For extra details about issues to do and see in our island metropolis, go to our Key West Internet Web site. You can even go to our Key West Occasions Calendar to see upcoming particular occasions.
And for extra restaurant opinions take a look at our restaurant evaluation part of this weblog in addition to our restaurant opinions at www.gotothekeys.com.
Island Genn – Your Key West Concierge
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