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    Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center

    4.5 (48 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Matt C.

    Yes, this place is, in fact, FREE! Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is situated on the marine sanctuary campus. Just when you think there's nothing south of Duval Street, think again. If you're traveling with kiddos, add this spot to your list because it'll come in clutch at some point during your trip. Like others have mentioned, when you're on the road with little ones, sometimes you're desperate of finding indoor activities. Pair the humid summer heat and finding indoor spots for large groups in Key West is easier said than done. Now my little guy is too young to appreciate all that this place offers, but it was perfect for us to kill an hour before going to the airport. And you know what? We learned some things too! This place is interactive and educational. It's a small museum, with a lot of text heavy exhibits. Nonetheless, there are some cool things here to check out regarding marine science, local ecology, coral reefs, and various history!

    Awesome topographical & gigantic view of the Keys!
    Charly S.

    My husband, myself and our older teen visited here in early December 2022. Right now they're only open Fri & Sat from 9 am - 4 pm (closed Christmas Eve but open Dec 30&31). We spent about 90 minutes here and enjoyed all the exhibits, found it to be very informative. It was great to see all the touch and interactive displays for the little ones (and biggest ones). We also enjoyed the short 20 min video seen through the eyes of a girl growing up in the keys and exploring the different ecosystems. Was nice to see the restoration projects underway and the art displays featuring the wide words of children and what they'll do to protect the environment. A free centre, but donations are appreciated. The staff/(volunteers?) that were there the day we there were so lovely and informative. A recommended stop on any Key West adventure.

    Aaron H.

    If you are looking for something in Key West that is interesting, fun and free, then you found it!!! Not only do you get to learn about the Florida Keys Eco-culture but you get to do it in the AC!!!! It really is a cool place to check out and it will not take you all day. It is perfect if you have kids or just want to get away from crowds on Duval St. for a bit.

    Environmental landscape model.
    Sabrina B.

    What a great treat!! First off - right on the water so independent of the awesome Discovery center, there is a gorgeous scenic view. Parking is easy and free. Though it is on the property of the Fort the Center is previous to the Fort entry booth so there is no charge for entry to the area nor the center itself. Immediately you are met by a bright bold aquatic themed exterior. When you enter your immediately feel as if you have been transported to a modern big city aquarium. The lobby is welcoming and immediately you are greeted with a map of the facility. We made an immediate left and were met with a large scale replica of the various environmental areas in the Keys. Each ecosystem had it's own display and interesting facts about the area. The hallway into the next room has a TV showing a 3D movie. Glasses are scattered on the table where the TV is staged and there is a small bench across from the TV for seating. The next room introduces a very cool feature - a model submarine and underwater lab. There are portholes with video footage giving you the true feeling of undersea travel. The part I found to be the coolest was the large coral core embedded into the wall. Much like a tree trunk with it's rings, there are sections of coral that allow scientists to date the coral. The core that is in the wall is at least 12 feet tall. It's beautiful. Small arrows point to parts of the coral and pinpoint historical events that occurred while the coral was growing (Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 9-11, etc). Such a great way to realize understand the gravity of the years of growth. The main area ends there and you can backtrack to the entrance. In a small area off to the side is a small fish tank with a few native species. There is a vending machine and a door to exit the building to the back harbor area. Stepping outside you see an anchor sculpture and an oceanic society memorial / seating area. The view out into the ocean is spectacular and a fantastic photo op. This is a great place to visit and even better than that, to have available to the kids in the area as a learning venue! I will continue to visit on future trips and see if they have added or changed anything.

    Jackie V.

    This was such a lovely and enjoyable part of our vacation. Excellent exhibits. Cool underwater 3D film and beautiful 20 min movie. Volunteers were great. Thanks Jim and Al! Liz in the giftshop is a new buddy.

    Marla V.

    A free, kid-friendly museum in Key West? Sign me up! This museum is operated by NOAA and provides educational material on reefs, mangroves, wildlife, and oceans. Upon arriving, you enter the section that contains replicas of hammocks, mangroves, and dunes. Each area has educational monitors about our environment. After that, there's a replica of the NOAA undersea laboratory, and again, monitors and information about different reefs. There's also a 3D video about underwater reefs and shipwrecks. They have an aquarium that contains local ocean life. My kids loved this museum and the exhibits. It's a definite stop for anyone with kids in Key West.

    Ericka A.

    $FREE.99, holla! This lovely little tourist spot is a short walk from the USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum. They are open daily from 9am-4pm and it's absolutely free! I came in just in time to catch one of their feel good/informational movies and walked through the place quickly. It's pretty small, but there's enough to take in to make it worth your time. I particularly loved the few aquariums they keep. I believe the employees are volunteers, though I'm not 100% sure. Either way, everyone I met here was very friendly and they can give you some great information for diving and snorkeling trips in the surrounding Keys.

    Rosie P.

    This was amazing! So many interactive exhibits and COLD AC! Oh, and it's free! They have a lot of great information on Florida's reefs and they have a small ecosystem with live fish, sea urchins, and coral. They also have a lot of great information on boating and areas to watch out for. This place was not crowded, the employees were super friendly and informative. Don't miss it!

    Laura T.

    My husband and I rented biked and decided to ride out here since we never get this far when we are just walking. So glad we did! This place is pretty interesting! You can take as much or as little time as you want and go at your own pace. If you have time, I suggest you come visit. It's free and great for families.

    Kuanyu C.

    Riding the Honda Metro through the roads in Ft. Zachary, just to look at what else is offered, and I came upon the Eco-Discovery Center. I appreciate the concept and the original effort that was put into creating this place. It's kind of like a quasi-marine life museum. I think could easily pass as a newly built wing for another local museum or aquarium. I stepped in just in time for the hourly video presentation run in the back room. It's about woman (well story started out when she was a little girl) that was enchanted by the beauty of nature since she was very young. I love part of the video when she was diving among the fishes. Very cool. The entrance fee is, FREE. With that said, this place is crowd sourced; their operations depends on the generosity of the locals and tourists passing through. I can see they are doing the best to keep this place up.

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    2 years ago

    Very beautiful as well as educational. Megan greeted us at the front desk and was very knowledgeable about the exhibits. Wonderful place!!

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    Helped really explain a lot about the Keys area. Best of all its free.

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    Review Highlights - Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center

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    Mel Fisher Maritime Museum - Wall of silver!

    Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

    3.7(104 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Happy International Museum Day! Here's a brief review of one of the museums I visited on my cruise…read morein March 2026. Although a bit overpriced ($17.50 for adults) for the size and scope of this museum, Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida is an important stop for those interested in maritime archaeology and shipwrecks. This museum, which opened in 2000 in a historic building, focuses on the artifacts from a few 17th-century shipwrecks, especially on the historic find of the Spanish galleon ship, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha which sunk off the Florida Keys in 1622. The history behind the ship, the wreck, and its discovery are all incredible so do a deep dive on your own. As for the museum part of it, the exhibits are pretty permanent - this isn't the kind of place with rotating exhibits - and they could use a dusting/refresh. The gift shop up front is decent, the staff were nice, and the section that focused on the slave ship, Henrietta Marie was a sobering at the cruel treatment and conditions human beings subjected to other human beings. I had a good visit, spending about an hour here in all, and was pleased to have crossed it off my very long list of museums I want to visit!

    First please go and ask for Jadon , I can't overstate how moved I was with the museum, Mel Fisher…read morewas a veteran who utilized his scuba diving talents to find treasure that span across different cultures. What resonates with me most is the African American exhibits on the second floor. This is the most comprehensive collection of African American artifacts in North America . Not only does he encompass the stories of west Africa , he highlights the Caribbean countries like Haiti and Cuba for example to show the magnitude of the trans Atlantic slave trade . This stories shall and will be continue to be told at places like this . I strongly encourage the visit , this museum does what few museums do. It makes you sit with history not walk past it . This place unearthed more than shipwrecks it showed how interconnected we are . It also showed us that One plaque in the exhibit caused me to pause. It read, "Slaveholders feared that an entirely free Black population in the U.S. would overwhelm the whites. Many believed the races could not mix." The irony of such thinking still hangs heavy in the air. Not because the fear was grounded in truth, but because it was steeped in control. It's not the mixing of races that has ever been the threat. It is the liberation of the oppressed, the unmasking of truth, the breaking of silence. I think it's important that all communities that have been marginalized are allowed to have there history spoken on in its truth no matter how ugly it is with no edits

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    Mel Fisher Maritime Museum - Mel Fisher

    Mel Fisher

    Mel Fisher Maritime Museum - Emerald jewelry piece of the Pope

    Emerald jewelry piece of the Pope

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    Tennessee Williams Museum - Wonderful Museum about Tennessee Williams' Life and Work. Opened 2021.

    Tennessee Williams Museum

    3.5(2 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    This self-guided museum may be of interest to a die-hard Williams fan, but for the casual visitor,…read moreit was a bit lackluster. Mostly old playbills and reviews. I was also interested to know that the paintings displayed of Williams' were just prints. The originals are in the Custom House Museum.

    "I've always depended on the kindness of strangers", one of Tennessee Williams' more famous lines,…read moremay be relevant to the Yelp experience as well. Useful reviews and kind compliments sent by complete strangers? I'll take that any day! OK now more about the museum itself: The Tennessee Williams Museum is a bright modern (circa 2021) space dedicated to the life and literary works of the famous playwright. The small building houses an impressive collection of material ranging from prints of TW's paintings, first edition books, playbills, videos of his interviews and a model of his home in Key West. Admittedly I'm a major fan, but the place would probably appeal to just about anyone with some interest in Key West's colorful history. Admission is reasonable ($7 for adults and $5 for seniors), with discounts available for pre-booking on the museum website. Friendly helpful staff member allowed me to linger a good long while with no hassle. The gift shop has some great finds as well. A unique and wonderful place all around.

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    Tennessee Williams Museum - Many Plays Made Into Classic Movies

    Many Plays Made Into Classic Movies

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    Tennessee Williams Museum - Prodigious Work Despite Tragic Life. My Favorite Author.

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    Prodigious Work Despite Tragic Life. My Favorite Author.

    Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center - museums - Updated May 2026

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