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.

**if you have a cat allergies SKIP THIS you will be miserable. All other people this is one of the…read morebest experiences on key west. Full stop When visiting Key West this is a MUST DO. The staff are all so friendly. they keep it infomral so it's not stuffly or rehersed. In our tour group there about 15 people. 4 of whuch were kids and our guide tailored it to them which both sweet and adorable. He also mentioned multiple times that if we wnated a different experance to stick aorund for the next tour. So from tour to tour you'll get a completely different experiace and infomation which is not typical and definatly a more interesting experiance (I do a lot of antique and historically signifaicnt home tours lol) The cats are amazon. Most are very used to people and are happy for some gental and respictful attention. Please if you are visiting, be respectful of the rules and don't pick htem up. If one jumps in your laslp thats fine but don't pick them up on your own. Pets and belly rubs and photos and ear scratches al welcome. We saw margarita glasses being used a water bowls an have implented this at our house now. I could have spent all day here and if we ever return to Key West we'll be back as I;m sure the experience will be different.

When we planned to come to Key West, this was the first item on my bucket list. And it did not…read moredisappoint. After paying to get in, we did a little tour on our own. Mostly my wife looking at the cats and trying to get their attention. We had a cat, they do whatever they want when they want to. At a given time, we came back to the front for the house and garden tour. It was very informative and it lasted about 30 minutes. It does include some very steep stair climbing but well worth the visit. I was not aware of the whole cat thing but it was an interesting story on why and how they got there. But to see where Hemingway, certainly one of America's best writers, lived was a very cool thing to do.... in this heat and humidity :)

This was my favorite touristy tours we took while visiting Key West. I learned a lot about the area…read moreand President Truman. I was very impressed with the restored home and real lived in items as historic pieces on display. They still have more work to keep this museum going and protected, but it can be done. They also had a nice gift shop, with great tour guides. Bravo!

From 1946 through 1952, President Harry Truman used this house as his winter vacation home, and…read morebecause he spent 175 days of his presidency here, it became known as the Little White House. Originally built by the U.S. Navy in 1890, the Little White House served as naval command headquarters during the Spanish-American War, and also played roles in both World Wars and the Cold War. Since Truman's days, many other presidents have also vacationed here, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Today, the Little White House has been restored and turned into a museum. Also, don't forget to check the famous limousine while you are there. The only way to see inside the Truman Little White House in Key West is via a guided tour. But there is a small section near the gift shop that is free for visitors.

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.

A wonderful informative and engaging space in which to learn more about the flora and fauna of the…read moreKeys. The dangers and the ways people can help are fundamental in the posters and placards throughout the museum-like Center. Parking just outside and the Truman Waterfront, playground and splash park are just outside. Entry is free; check opening hours - currently Wednesday through Sunday.

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.

Lovely. Dedicated staff. An unexpected treat in Key West (which turns out to be a thoroughly…read morelikeable town despite the rumor and innuendo). An easy place to have a very nice time.

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.

You get incredible views of Key West from on top of the lighthouse. It is an exhausting 88 steps up…read morebut the view is well worth it. It started to thunder and lightning while we were aloft. That was scary/interesting. The museum and gift shop are nice.

the only lighthouse in USA entirely within city limits…read more Visitors can climb 88 iron steps, explore the restored Keeper's Quarters, and view maritime artifacts. Originally built in 1825, the current structure was completed in 1848 and raised in 1894 to reach 100 feet. The view from the top is considered one of the best in Key West. One of the highest points in Old Town, the lighthouse offers unmatched panoramic views and the chance to enjoy Key West's legendary sunset in peaceful privacy; far from the crowded Mallory Square

Interesting Fort. Lots of great things to see in the Fort & Museum…read more The unfortunate part is that is that there isn't a lot of signage on the tour. It is a self guided tour and they give you a map with some description. They had great signage got Robert the Doll and the Count. There are places that were area not allowed to go to due to renovations, but at least they lower the price. I did the Robert the Doll tour the night previous. I think I learned more about the place through the Sloan ghost tour. Also never received my ticket or emailed ticket to get a day ticket as stated when I bought that ticket. Would I go again? Yes. I do recommend visiting. But ask questions and read the map for information.

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.

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