We were in Key West during a cold snap. The high on this particular day was only in the 50's so we…read morewere looking for some indoor activites as opposed to water or beach activities. The Art and Historical Society is housed in a historic buidling that has served a variety of uses in the past - including serving as the island's customs office, a post office, courthouse and the U S Navy. This four-story architectural marvel was built to be a prominent structure near the water in order to collect customs. After the Navy moved out, it was vacant for a number of years until it was acquired by the Art and Historical Society which completed an extensive, multi-year renovation of the building. Seeing the building itself is worth a visit but the museum includes a wealth of art and history of the Key West are that shoudn't be missed. Allow at least 2 hours.

Located in Mallory Square, this museum depicts the paths of citizens of the southernmost town when…read moreit was the richest and largest city in Florida in the 19th century. Here we see local, national and even international exhibits of art and history. I enjoyed drawings of Ernest Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. There are 59 drawings on the walls from the 1st to the 3rd floor. Open daily from 10-4:30 pm. Elsewhere I wasn't super impressed. Admission charge 13.00 and less for kids. Self guided.

It's definitely a must visit when you're in Key West. Luscious greeneries all over the property…read more Keep an eye on the six-toe cats all around. Some of them occupy the cat house that looks like the Hemingway house itself. Very cute. The gift shop is at the back. You can find some cats there too. Very friendly and helpful staff

Heard this was a must stop in key west so had to come by…read more We didn't do the tour which I regret. I think the tour would have brought the whole thing together better. It was super crowded when we went which made it a bit hard to take everything in but loved the cute cats!

We came down to Key West for the week and hadn't originally planned to visit the museum. However,…read moreseveral friends recommended it, so we decided to go. I'm glad we did. The most striking thing, and something others have noted, is how low key everything feels. The structure, furnishings, and grounds are modest and very much middle class in character. Compared to how government operates today, the accommodations felt surprisingly austere. The exhibits and tour provide a fairly balanced view of Truman's presidency during that time. He seemed to have a more relaxed approach to the executive branch, often trading formal suits and ties for khakis and Hawaiian shirts. There are also reprints of newspaper clippings and political cartoons that don't always portray him or his administration in a positive light. To me, that made the experience feel more authentic, especially compared to the highly polished and carefully branded narratives often associated with modern political figures. Definitely worth the visit.

It's a cool spot if you're into American history, especially presidential…read more The house is beautiful and the grounds well kept. There is a presidential car also on site. Many placards, images and memorabilia to read, see and learn.

The San Carlos institute is a magnificent building on Duvall street, Key West which now operates as…read morean historic Cuban heritage center. The building was founded in 1871 by Cuban exiles to support the fight for Cuba's independence from Spain and also had a school on the top floor to educate Cuban children. The entrance is free and the rooms are full of photographs and historical items. It's well worth stopping in. There is also a screening room that plays a 25 minute video. The architecture and design of the building is impressive.

This Institute is truly an honor to have been inside. They are open to the public without asking…read moreyou for cent you get a lot of history specially in conjunction with the US. I even had someone come over and explain with so much passion and detail the stories behind some of the things I could see in the frames on the walls. I recommend you check out this basically free museum and leave a little love behind. a little goes a long way.

A cost neutral GEM of an attraction that many unfortunately miss. Very interesting, informative,…read moreand the staff (Christine & others) are incredibly knowledgeable, polite, and friendly. Enjoy.

The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is located on Key West's Truman Waterfront and is part of…read moreNOAA's Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Complex. It's mission is to inspire visitors to preserve the marine ecosystems of the Florida Keys & enjoy the natural resource responsibly. The center is open Wednesday to Saturday from 9:00 until 4:00. Admission is free, and so is parking, making this a convenient stop. With more than 6,000 square feet of interactive exhibits guests can learn about the native plants & animals in the Keys. Exhibits highlight the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 4 national wildlife refuges & 3 national parks, including Dry Tortugas, which is on an island about 70 miles from Key West. We started with a 20-minute movie about the Keys' fragile ecosystems and then explore the center on a self-paced tour. Staff & volunteers are also on-site to answer questions. Notable exhibits include a replica of NOAA's Aquarius, the only underwater ocean laboratory in the world, and a spotlight on the long maritime history of shipwrecks inside the sanctuary's waters. After 2022 renovations there is now a mangrove exhibit where guests can play animal noises & guess which animal made the sound, an area with microscopes so you can watch coral close-up, and a paddleboard photo-op that feels as though we are paddling through the mangroves.

Another beautifully preserved historic property as well as extensive lush gardens. We passed by…read morethe property daily during our brief visit to the keys and admired the well maintained tropical gardens visible from the pathway.

I am not as enthusiastic with this tourist attraction. There is a very sketchy connection to…read moreAudubon and the gardens are not special. The house is interesting but does not justify the entrance price. There are some very cool bird paintings for sale which is probably the objective here. The tour guide provided good service in his introduction.

Tours are not free or have a tour guide as stated in some of these older reviews. It's $10/per…read moreperson now and it's a self walk through/guided tour. It's all self guided. Make sure you read all of the signage - you'll learn a lot. Beautiful gardens out back. Currently under construction as they are building a kitchen for catering of their events. Fun to do if you're looking to kill 30-45 minutes or so.

I really enjoyed this visit. A docent gave us a quick overview of each room in the house then let…read moreus explore the house and grounds at our own pace. The shop was cute as well. It was great to spend time speaking with the docent and curator as well. They had so much knowledge, not just about this house, family, site, etc., but other historic spots and trivia about Key West. Money well spent.

Last day in Key West and we finally made it to the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters…read moreMuseum. So glad we did. It was an excellent visit. The entire site is beautifully maintained. If you go, make sure you climb to the top. The view is spectacular and absolutely worth the steps. The lighthouse keeper's house and surrounding grounds are first rate and give you a real sense of what life was like more than 100 years ago. There are numerous displays explaining both the daily work and the technology required to keep the lighthouse operating. It's informative without feeling overwhelming. A must-visit when you're in Key West.

We took the 88 stair climb up and it wasn't too bad. Just a bit awkward when people are trying to…read moreget down while you're trying to go up. The viewing deck from up top isn't too big but it had nice views. The keepers in had interesting items to look at and read about. Worth doing in Key West when you need a break from day drinking.

Steve was the tour staff that went the extra mile to explain the uncanny history behind this…read moreawesome 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.

I booked the Robert the Doll Paranormal experience on an October Sunday. We got there 15 min early…read moreas 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.

You're in the Keys... so let's know up front this museum is no Metropolitan Museum of Art or the…read moreGuggenheim; the keys have museums but for the most part they are all low-key and this one is no exception. It's not large and it's not overly impressive but it is interesting; more in the sense of it's actual history and not what they have to offer. The real deal is the place was, to put it bluntly, a turtle slaughterhouse... Sea Turtles were brought in from the boats and loaded into the building (that sits over the water as part of the docks). They canned the meat and also made Turtle Soup. Key West no longer processes sea turtles into meals but the history is here... Regardless of whether you love or just like it, it is free, so when life gets closer to normal, swing in for a peep.

When a great stop along the drive down to Key West. The exhibits were thoughtful and informative…read more There is a 90 minute tour which is worth every penny. It's nice to support their rehab efforts