Steve was the tour staff that went the extra mile to explain the uncanny history behind this awesome exhibition. Ample parking, and a great experience if it's sunny, but especially if there is bad weather a bargain to get out of a storm. I suggest this tour to any history, paranormal, military, or Key West enthusiast. read more

I booked the Robert the Doll Paranormal experience on an October Sunday. We got there 15 min early as they request. I was pretty excited about it. There was only a group of 13. They provided all the ghost hunting equipment and a little history on the fort and Robert. It was a neat experience. read more

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Museum was ok. Seemed more like a bunch of old random stuff in the rooms. I did enjoy the trivia included on the flyer they give you. The big draw is Robert the Doll I'm assuming. The outlook area was pretty cool to see. Something to do if you have a free 30 min to spare. Appreciated the Veteran discount. read more

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Welcome to the East Martello Museum, home of art, history, and one very creepy celebrity: Robert the Doll. If you came here for Civil War history and scenic ocean views, surprise -- you're about to meet a haunted toy that has its own fan mail. The museum itself is fascinating -- an old Union fort built in 1862 to protect Key West from Confederate attacks. But let's be honest: you're here for Robert. He's a three-foot-tall, sailor-suited doll with a weirdly human expression, a tragic origin story, and the kind of energy that makes you triple-check your locks at night. The legend goes like this: In the early 1900s, Key West artist Robert Eugene "Gene" Otto was gifted the doll by a servant skilled in voodoo. Gene loved Robert... a little too much. Neighbors swore they heard the doll giggling when no one was home. Visitors claimed its expression changed. Some say Robert moved on his own. When Gene died, Robert landed here at East Martello -- and immediately started wrecking people's lives. Here's the deal: If you want to take Robert's picture, you must ask his permission first. Seriously. There are hundreds of letters from visitors apologizing after they ignored him and then "mysteriously" got flat tires, lost jobs, or had their marriages implode. It's like Yelp reviews, but written in terror. And yes, you will ask permission. You'll laugh about it in line, then stand in front of him, sweating under the AC vent, whispering: "Uh... hi, Robert... may I take your photo?" If his vibe feels off, don't push it. He's been blamed for everything from camera malfunctions to hangovers you can't explain. Outside of Robert, the museum is packed with Key West history, quirky art, and artifacts that tell the island's wilder stories -- wreckers, pirates, and hurricanes, oh my. But let's be real: Robert steals the show. Pro tip: Be polite. Don't mock him. Don't tap the glass. And if anything weird happens after your visit, you will find yourself writing an apology letter to a doll in Key West. East Martello Museum: Come for the history, stay for the haunted toy that could ruin your week. Robert's waiting... and he knows if you didn't ask. read more

Very interesting structure, and I thought it was a fun choice that even though it is obviously a former military instillation, they exhibits cover a wide range of local history. From the native culture to, yes, the haunted doll. The best part was really the docent who was extremely friendly and informative. We spent as much time learning history from him as we did perusing the exhibits. Very worth it. read more

Thought the museum could have had more interactive displays and descriptions on some of the artifacts. The most popular display seems to be Robert the doll. Pretty creepy. read more

I had visited before but during a recent trip to the keys, I knew I had to bring my friends. Even though we went on a weekend, it was empty, we only came across two other people who were leaving when we got there so we had the place to ourselves. Each of the rooms are interesting and are filled with fun information. My favorite room is the haunted key west room that goes over some spooky stuff that has happened in the keys, and also introduces Robert the doll. He is my favorite :) Definitely something to check out, if you can! read more

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Made sure to get here before 5 when they say they close online. Got there 4:32 and they would not let us in, saying we were 2 minutes late??? I tell them we came a long way and it was only 2 minutes past their "last entry" time and they rudely tell me no and scold me like I should have telepathically known they have 2 different closing times. Someone new needs to run this place. read more

We visited here because I had hoped to see Robert the doll on the Night time tour I took, but that didn't happen, so My husband decided we'd do it first thing in the morning as we rode the Hop on/op Off bus. The grounds are nice, the building is neatly kept, as a Martello from the 1800's can be. There are exhibits from different time periods in Key West's history and of course, Robert the doll. Robert the doll is kept neatly in a locked box, with a camera on him at all times, so if you want to touch him, don't try it. Don't take a pic of him without asking him permission, less he follow you home and some nasty luck befall you. People apparently do this and well, the letters that come in daily, tell his tale. THey have a nice, large gift shop and apparently do haunted tours of their own. Admission is $16 per adult. they are located literally at the edge of the key west airport so finding them is super easy. read more

East Martello Museum - Saw Robert the Doll. Asked permission first. - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

We went here for David Sloan's Robert the Doll tour as part of his Ghost Tour Adventures in Key West. He wrote the book on all things spooky in Key West (literally, he did). The East Martello Museum sits smack dab in front of the Key West Airport so it's pretty easy to find. This old fort is pretty neat and pretty historic. If you do the tour with David Sloan, he does explain a lot about the fort, why it may be haunted, and walk you through some of the areas of the fort where there's more paranormal activity than others. We only did the Robert the Doll tour and I'm not sure what happens during the day. But the night tour was pretty cool. read more

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As I walked in a knot began to grow in my stomach. I do not believe in it, do I? Well I believe in God and the devil, sooo....let's not chance it. "Hello Robert, I am Brian." I introduce myself to the doll in a Navy uniform behind the glass. Letters written from people who did not introduce themselves to him, failed to say goodbye, or took his picture without permission and something happened to them after they left. Had Robert followed them? They thought so and wrote letters to apologize. They have more letters scanned and scrolling through on the television behind the doll. This is the major attraction of the museum that is a short walk from the airport at Key West. Watch the movie about Robert before your visit and then decide for yourself if you dare to see him. Will you say hi or will you risk it? read more

Good small fun. A handful of curious exhibits, some arty sculptures, the fort itself is interesting enough, and of course the real reason most people will come here, Robert the haunted doll. Was sort of creepy for me because I was the only one in the place besides the employees and I didn't want to breathe any life into Robert by paying him any attention other than walking by. I've had a frightening experience with a haunted doll many years ago and that's all I'm going to say about that. Having the run of the place alone really made the experience special except for wandering off into a closed area by happenstance and unexpectedly surprising some construction worker in the dark. Yipes!! Lol read more

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Not impressive at all. It's an old military building from the civil war but they've added other attractions, namely a haunted doll which had nothing to do with this place and have a huge merchandise area dedicated to this doll. While it's an interesting story indeed it's an added attraction to the civil war fort used by the Union to hold Key West. There is also another added attraction of junkyard art. Again, it's one more thing to help drive traffic to this otherwise dead place. read more

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We did an after hour ghost tour, and Dan, our guide, did an amazing job. He was funny and kept us on our toes. He was very informative. After the tour, we had 1 hr to look around on our own, and it was fun. Even my husband had fun, and he is not I to the ghost hunting thing. We got to see Robert the doll, who is the reason we drove all the way from Tx to see. Got a little Robert the doll of my own to take home. read more

East Martello Museum - Robert the doll - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

The East Martello Fort and Museum is a worth while stop with plenty of free parking.The structure of the fort is beautiful in brick arch design and rich in an unusual history as a Union fort. The famous "Robert the Doll" is housed here and an area devoted to Haunted Key West. A number sculptures by local artist Stanley Papio are on display. Papio was ahead of his time in repurposing car parts to create interesting sculpture. Key West celebrates with a Papio parade many summers encouraging creative to build their human powered floats. The Citadel Tower's spiral staircase to the rooftop gives a Wow, of a panoramic ocean view! read more

East Martello Museum - Stanley Papio Sculpture - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Matt was AMAZING! Hands down the most interactive and fun experience we've ever had at a museum. Matt has so much knowledge about all things museum and key west! Everyone in the group was so invested in the entire experience! We will recommend to everyone we know. Thanks Matt!! We will visit Robert soon! read more

East Martello Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

The moment we walked in we felt like we weren't welcome. The front desk lady (older with brownish grayish short hair), made us feel like we were below her. She gave us curt answers to our questions and had a very condescending attitude. The museum was also very boring other than Robert the doll sitting in a glass case. The only highlight was buying a Robert doll for my grandson. Although, when I asked the older lady if this Robert was a nice guy she just retorted "it's all what you make it" ...what the heck kind of response is that to a kid??? If you bother to go just beware of this grumpy old lady. She ruined the visit for us. read more

Had the best time here! My first time going to a haunted location tour and Dan and Dax my tour guides made it fun, had great energy, and lots of cool information to share. Way more interactive than I expected such as getting to have a EMF meter for the duration of the trip and use a spirit box. Both my boyfriend and I are a bit skeptical and we definitely were spooked by the tour and ambience. May have heard some paranormal sounds, orbs on video surveillance, and possibly from the other couple with us the man's shirt seemingly moved by itself a bit. Nothing seemed staged or cheesy, no jump scares, just genuine exploration, learning cool stuff, and trying to communicate and understand spirits. Would love to do the VIP exploration someday but unsure if I would be too spooked to actually do it. Thank you Dan and Dax for a great experience. Thank you to Robert the Doll as well ;) read more

East Martello Museum - EMF Meter - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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We stopped here as part of the ghosts and graveyard tour, it's spooky at night for certain. You just peek at the doll and hear a spooky tale. Two of our cameras had unexpected glowing lights in the courtyard pictures we took. read more

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Heads up, everyone - This is an example of how NOT to run a business. This is an example of a business to avoid for would-be patrons - At least until changes are made. For the owner, please read. My story is short - Just like my experience here. My kids and I arrived and entered the doors at 4:31 PM - A seemingly irritated worker says from a distance in a whiney voice, "We're cllllosssed!" She seemed put out that she even had to tell us. I said, "You're closed, yet your sign says that you are open till 5?" She stops, gives me a dirty look, and says "YES! We stop admittance at 4:30." Nowhere did it say that on the outside. If that is the case, put a sign up that says that you close at 4:30 or stop admittance at that time! We would have been glad to look around for the 29 minutes. Good thing all places don't run this way. If I am expected to work my job until 5 PM, but at 4:30, I put everything away and sit there for a half-hour and whine, I doubt my boss would be pleased. Owners: This is the LAST kind of person/personality that should be representing an establishment. My two young kids were even appalled by her. For the next 30 minutes, they were in the car, saying, "We're cllllosssed!" and commenting about how rude she was. This may be a blessing in disguise. After this experience, I read the other reviews. It seems many people make mention that Robert the Doll is the only decent attraction. Maybe we will get lucky and they will relocate him to a real museum or friendly place of business someday. read more

This isn't a museum. It's an episode of American Pickers. There's an eclectic menagerie of artifacts on display but no context to any of it. The original fort, built in 1862, is interesting on its own and you can take the black circular iron staircase up a few floors to look out on the water and the airport (which is immediately behind this structure). There is quirky modern sculpture on display, too, but old Robert the Doll is, I guess, the reason most folks visit. Dating to about 1903, this doll is purported to have paranormal qualities. (There's a story posted about how this doll became well-known.) The museum plays it up as folks at the front desk warn visitors to say hello to Robert the Doll and ask him for permission before taking photos. Bad luck may result if a visitor doesn't do so. Add some black walls, creepy music played on a loop, and a large old horse-drawn hearse nearby and it makes for an uncomfortable experience. Well, I didn't say hello to Robert the Doll, I didn't ask for permission before taking his photo nor did I place a dollar in the donation box conveniently placed near him. Did I suffer bad luck? Nope. If Robert the Doll really has paranormal qualities, I would encourage him to use his power for good and nudge the folks that run this place to up the level of the displays. read more

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While this is a tourist trap, there are a lot of interesting plaques, posters, and relics. I did enjoy walking around the grounds, especially where West Martello Tower has a lot less of the original fortifications left. We did see Robert and said hi. I obviously did not take a picture of him because I do not want to curse my new marriage. My wife did accidently get him in the background of a picture and now has to write him... The scrap art exhibit was interesting, too. read more

We went on the VIP Ghost Hunt and Robert the Doll experience here. If you're debating on going I would not recommend this tour unless you purchase the VIP experience (additional $40) which includes the 1 hour tour on your own after the guided part. I don't think the guided tour would be worth the money on its own. read more

this ghost tour was so fascinating and spooky. I learned a lot about the history of the fort and Robert the Doll and had encounters with ghosts while on the tour. I got the chills and felt touched on the arm while outside the Yellow Fever hospital. the guide, David Sloan, was so entertaining and passionate. he was very animated and made the tour so much fun! we were able to use official ghost hunting gear and take photos throughout the tour. the gift shop has cute Key West souvenirs and Robert the Doll garb as well. the tour has dark lighting and lots of dolls, so if you aren't comfortable with either of those things then steer clear of this tour. if you're into the paranormal, you absolutely have to visit! it is top 10 haunted places in the US for a reason. read more

East Martello Museum - Robert the Doll - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Purchased tickets online (you get a discount) which made the process smooth. Checked in and was greeted by the lady at the counter who was polite. She gave us an overview of the museum and we were on our way. This museum is small but does have interesting pieces from a long time ago. The main attraction here however is Robert the Doll, which is in the in the middle of the museum. To see him encased in glass is a little terrifying as I have read the stories so I was respectful and did not take his picture (just to be safe), even though if you ask him you are able to do so and have no bad juju. Be aware there is no AC within this museum so it gets hot! Go to the top of the tower ad take some nice pictures overlooking the beach. While some may call this place a tourist trap I would not because its places like these that along with the small shops in town that really contribute to the preserving of the history of Key West and if you don't support them they will disappear. read more

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'Ello chaps!East Martello Museum is site of a civil war era fort, established to combat piracy and shipping protection. While East Martello Museum is ripe with history, it is Robert the Doll that lures guests to this location. Legend says voodoo is perhaps one explanation for the mysterious misdeeds blamed on Robert the Doll. Robert "Gene" Otto was the first owner of Robert the Doll, and word is that Gene would shift blame when he misbehaved as a child, pointing to the doll and saying "I didn't do it, Robert did it."Some guests have said they've had misfortunes after taking Robert's photo without permission. Do you dare to cross it? ;-) There's also a lot of cool history and funky junkyard art on display throughout the museum. Well worth the $13 admission fee - especially for those who may not frequent the area. It's also one of the stops on the Old Town Trolley, with a trolley coming every half hour or so. Pace yourself and you can spend a good hour here. Also, a great view of the neighboring Key West International Airport, A1A, and waterway. read more

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Robert the Doll was pretty interesting and funny to check out at the East Martello Museum (though I'm not superstitious or into those so-called "curses" when it comes to picture-taking). The fort itself is on the southeast side of Key West, right when you enter the main part of the island. Wasn't expecting a whole lot, but there were some good and interesting artifacts to see. Normally $7 for adults and $5 for students (with valid ID), but parking right outside the fort entrance is free. Going to the top of the fort tower in the center was pretty interesting and sort of like a maze, but lots of nice views awaited you! Not too bad a place to see in Key West! read more

Visiting this museum was at the top of my husband's list of things to do in Key West, with seeing Robert as the reason for the visit. We greatly enjoyed the warm welcome from Susie, who was delightful and gave us an intro to the museum. She advised that we would feel the energy from the 42 documented ghosts...we sure did! Super creepy! Robert did not disappoint and the citadel had some wild energy...I quickly caught the view from top - Blackhawk and all - before calling it a day. Still a little creeped out, hoping lunch at First Flight helps. read more

We didn't even get inside - There was a woman inside the door who instructed us to go back outside, scan a QR code, then fill in the CC input fields via phone. That annoys me for a couple reasons. I understand virus safety, but don't even be open if you can't simply leave the credit card reader on the table for me to insert my own card or hand someone wearing gloves the cash. We went to Hemmingway house instead and it was great. read more

We finally went here after years of saying we should go. Really liked it. A lot of historical displays, very informative. You can't beat the setting of an old fort. It's not huge, I'd estimate the displays only occupy a third of the outer fort walls. But again nice interesting displays. The top of the citadel in the middle of the courtyard offers some nice pic opportunities. Robert the Doll was a lot larger than I expected! You can buy fridge magnets in the gift shop that say "Robert Did It". Funny! We saw several HUGE iguanas on the ground and also sunning themselves on the brick walls of the fort... read more

Robert the doll is real!! I took his photo without asking. Weird stuff has been happening at my house. I tried to think it's all coincidental! But this morning is the last straw! Something literally impossible happened, Robert damn transported my cat. Im sorry Robert! read more

Wow Great museum with lots of artifacts to see. I love old forts and this doesn't disappoint a really nice gift shop and staff that knows a lot of the history. The grounds are really quiet and relaxing and it is right across from the ocean. read more

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Interesting old fort and artifacts. The brickwork and arches and vaulted ceilings are the most interesting to see

Honest review, The museum is nice, easy to walk through quickly but felt a bit rough especially with repair tools being left around in the tower. It's good if you're looking to kill an hour of free time. But don't be afraid of Robert the Doll! He's a delight compared to the rude lady working the front desk. It started when we walked in and asked about the ticket prices, she already seemed to be in a bit of a mood but I wrote that off as being tired since it was close to closing. However, she said how we should learn to read in a snarky tone and only AFTER saying that she put out the sign with the ticket prices. Ok whatever, but as we were heading into the museum we heard her yelling at a family with kids to close the door (something other reviewers pointed out she's quite passionate about). After we finished walking through the short exhibits, my mom was purchasing water from this lady and tried to make polite conversation. My mom asked about the chickens outside since we travel a lot but here in the keys is the only place in the U.S. we've seen feral chickens. The lady quickly snapped back, "yeah. This is America. You're gonna see wild chickens." In her very rude tone. You don't have to be a fan of polite conversation but if you don't want to talk you don't have to be rude about it. This isn't how you manage a business and I can see why other reviewers turned around after meeting this lady. It really is unfortunate because a better attitude could really help draw people in to the museum and invest more in it. read more

I will say that I find the history behind these twin Civil War forts to be worth reading about and I'm glad I stopped by although $10 per adult for a very small, self guided tour is steep all things considered. Construction of the forts began in the 1800s at which time yellow fever halted it multiple times. Neither of the forts were ever completed and despite their purpose, a shot was never fired from either structure. Instead, they now stand as historical museums housing some interesting artifacts to include ofcourse, Robert the doll. Stanley Papio's metalwork adorns much of both structures. The man obviously had a sense of humor and me thinks it was no easy feat bending, prodding and welding the metal into the characters featured. They are a lot of fun and apparently are also an ode to some of his neighbors and acquaintances. Throughout the rest of the entry structure are various artifacts and articles. Robert the doll has a small space to himself. I don't know how I feel about ghosts or the spirit world but nonetheless, I did not push the boundaries and take pictures without permission. I'd recommend googling the full story. If nothing else, it's a fascinating tale of a boy turned artist (Robert Eugene 'Gene' Otto), his doll (Robert) and their very odd, human-like relationship. Robert the doll also has a Facebook page and receives letters and gifts daily. I've read stories of people becoming ill when they're in close proximity to Robert but I did not experience such a thing. He's larger than I expected and there is children's music playing in the area of his enclosure which adds something to the overall feel of the room. The second fort is less complete than the first but does offer a wonderful view from the top of the building, accessible via a winding staircase (similar to lighthouse stairs). There are clean bathrooms near the second building and a little construction going on which doesn't hinder the walking tour. A garden with additional art occupies the space between the two buildings that could probably use a little bit of love. There's a small gift shop with tons of Robert swag and the woman at the front desk was pleasant. read more

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I'm going to review this place for a solid 2 stars. For starters, I guess there was a small price increase.. whereas the previous reviews say it's $6 for adults; it's now $7. Which isn't a big deal really. And for those who are students (high school, college, etc) it's only $5 with proper ID. Main reason why I'm giving it a solid 2 stars is because there isn't really a tour for this museum, no map and no explanation of things. Only a simple "go here to see art go to this corridor and go up there" and that was it. I wasn't expecting much of a tour anyways but for a "museum" I wanted a little more something to know the history of the place better. So yes, this museum is COMPLETELY self guided. We saw an art exhibit, then old artifacts as exhibits from natives to old battle weaponry to a table a president sat on and that's pretty much it. Oh, and a somewhat cool view of the ocean from the watch tower. Of course, there's Robert the Doll which of course is everyone's highlight and main reason for coming. It was cool to read the letters plastered behind him and read the apologies from people who didn't ask for permission and seemingly had horrid bad luck. I for one did not ask for permission when taking his photo. So if I never review again it was the curse of the doll... *insert haunting music* read more

Hi Robert, Thank you for letting me visit you today at the East Martello Museum. I'll be sure to give the museum a good review on Yelp so you can make some more friends. You're a very cute doll Robert. Thank you again. Your friend, Jason I visited the East Martello Museum today following a ghost tour that took me by my hotel (Artist House) and told me the story of Robert the Doll. Go on the tour then check out this museum. It is made out of an old fort from the 1800s, and is very very cool! The only problem is there are a lot of unfinished exhibits. So a lot of the time it feels like walking through a yard sale where someone is selling a bunch of old historic junk, with no descriptions of what the junk you're looking at is. The fort itself is really cool and you have a lot of freedom to explore it,, too. There are very few, if any, restrictions on where you can wander inside of the complex. This place is well worth the $6! ($5 if you have AAA or are a local!) read more

Come here with VERY low expectations and then you should have fun! I overhead an employee tell someone that they get very few visitors a day. Maybe 3 visitors a day during the slow season. The museum is very run down with a random collection of art and historic displays. We came here because we heard about Robert the doll. The legend is that that the doll is cursed with voodoo magic and if you take a picture of the doll without his approval, you and your family will be cursed. We decided to ask but weren't given permission (he's supposed to tilt his head). Needless to say, we didn't take a picture, esp after reading all the letters of people who were cursed and asked for forgiveness. read more

I really enjoyed this museum/historic site. Not huge, but if you're interested in getting a brief but thorough history of Key West before you get crunk on Duval Street, this is a good stop. Though known mostly for Robert the haunted doll, the old fort itself and the exhibits are worth a stop on their own. read more

Well if you have teenage children nowadays, then you may be familiar with the draw to this place. Robert the doll. Its a creepy pasta kind of story that you can find on Youtube. My girls really enjoyed the exhibits and the cold AC. It is beyond walking distance from the cruise ship dock but a very short Uber ride. There is a huge collection of scrap steel artwork and a decent amount of Robert the doll things to buy. It was $12 for an adult and 2 kids to walk thru the old fort/museum and $19 for the Uber. Its something to do besides more drinking :-) read more