Admission to Fort East Martello Museum was only $10 during our visit because of ongoing…read moreconstruction, which felt like an excellent bargain for a place containing Civil War-era artifacts, haunted history, Robert the Doll, and a Cuban immigrant raft, all under one roof. The museum is a fascinating mash-up of subjects. One moment you're learning about military history, the next you're exploring haunted exhibits, and then suddenly you're standing before Key West's most famous resident: Robert the Doll. Robert comes with a very specific set of etiquette rules. Before taking his photograph, visitors are expected to politely ask his permission--something along the lines of, "Robert, may I take your picture?" You're also supposed to be respectful, avoid mocking him, and refrain from tapping on his glass case. The tradition comes from the many visitors who claim they experienced bad luck after photographing Robert without asking. Some have reported camera malfunctions, strange technical problems, accidents, illness, and other unsettling events after their visit. Many of them later sent Robert apology letters, begging him to forgive them and lift the curse. The museum displays some of these letters, which makes the whole experience even more entertaining and slightly more threatening. Naturally, we followed the rules, except for one friend, who took a picture without asking. He also laughed at Robert, which, in hindsight, was an unnecessarily bold decision. The inside of the fort is unusual, with a tower you can climb filled with strange tin sculptures. It's definitely a weird museum, but in the best possible way. The main attraction is absolutely Robert, who sits silently in his case looking as though he knows exactly what you did last summer. Afterward, our rebellious friend joined us at an all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant. Within an hour, he began smelling like rotten eggs, making strange noises, and producing mysterious bursts of foul-smelling air from his backside. At first, we feared Robert had possessed him. Then we realized the true curse was probably unlimited beans. We are still waiting for a Russian medium to arrive and perform an exorcism, although the medium has requested that we stop blaming Robert and open a window first. Fort East Martello is an interesting, eccentric, and genuinely memorable museum. Come for the history, stay for the haunted doll, and remember: always ask Robert before taking his picture--or risk being haunted by both supernatural forces and your own digestive decisions.

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.

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.

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

The Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum was one of the most interesting stops we made in Key West…read more We met the owner, who was incredibly kind and took the time to explain the entire museum to us. He also let us interact with several of the props, which made the experience feel much more personal and fun. There is so much to see, including historic firefighting equipment, old uniforms, artifacts, photo opportunities, and fascinating displays about Key West's fire department. We even got to sit behind the desk of Joseph "Bum" Farto, Key West's former fire chief. Bum Farto was a larger-than-life local character who disappeared in 1976 shortly before he was supposed to be sentenced in a federal drug case. He was never found, and many people believe his ghost still haunts the firehouse, especially near his old desk. Naturally, I had to sit in Bum Farto's chair. The moment I did, I accidentally farted, and the result was far more dramatic than expected: a cloud of green fog rolled out from beneath the desk and formed the shape of a tiny demonic firefighter. It let out an evil laugh before vanishing into the ceiling. The owner stared at me in stunned silence. I claimed it was Bum Farto's ghost. My friends pointed out that it was probably just me. Either way, I recommend showing proper respect when sitting in the missing fire chief's chair. It may be haunted or the chair may simply have a very aggressive ventilation system. Bum Farto was a larger-than-life local character who was convicted in a federal drug case and disappeared in 1976 shortly before he was supposed to be sentenced. He was never found and was eventually declared dead in absentia. His disappearance became one of Key West's enduring mysteries, and many people believe his ghost still lingers around the firehouse, particularly near his old desk. The museum displays his desk, uniform, and other belongings, so naturally I sat down and immediately began wondering whether I was about to be recruited into an afterlife fire department. The museum highlights Bum Farto's desk and mystery, while local haunted-history accounts describe reported encounters with his spirit. Haunted Key West We got some incredible picture opportunities, including behind the desk, and the owner made the entire visit memorable. The museum also offers after-hours ghost tours and paranormal investigations for those brave enough to explore the firehouse after the living staff have gone home. A wonderful museum with tons of history, unusual artifacts, great photo opportunities, and just enough ghostly mystery to make you question every unexplained noise. I highly recommend visiting and if you sit at Bum Farto's desk, be polite. You never know when the missing fire chief might return to ask why you're using his chair.

This museum has more artifacts than any I've ever seen. It's a little off the beaten path, but…read morestill in Old Town, and I highly recommend it! Also, I love that this museum wants you to touch everything! There are signs saying "put on this hat and jacket" to see how you'd look as a firefighter, and "sit in this chair" to pretend to be the fire chief. It was honestly so refreshing and cool after having been in so many other Key West museums where you can't touch anything. The staff were so friendly and helpful, excited to tell stories about the Key West fire department and history. Plus, the museum has a ghost...I mean, it doesn't get better than that!

Another lovely preserved building in downtown Key West with historical significance. We were…read moreunable to time our visit to the area to enjoy a tour of the interior, but appreciative of the architecture and gardens.

Walking by and saw sign of a interesting women's museum in Key West and had to stop in. Are two…read moretour guide was super knowledgeable and friendly. She really took her time with our group of five and we felt very special to experience such a historic building.

We visited here on Wed 2/04/26 in the afternoon. Only a few other visitors, but it was a weekday &…read morewe were in Key West on vacation. Located on Stock Island just east of Key West off US Route 1, next to the College of the Florida Keys campus. A visit is 1-2 hours. Plenty of parking. Easy walking trails that let you meander through the key's native diverse flora. Must be 200+ plant/tree identification markers. Very helpful woman at the entrance provided us with a map for the self-guided tour. This place is maintained by the volunteers of the Key West Botanical Garden Society. Has been here for 90 years. Admission is $15.pp, $10.pp for seniors. Open 10am-4pm daily. Recommended for the visitor that wants to enjoy an alternative to the crowded Key West Old Town & Duval St. Thank you. Nick & Liz, Albany, NY, USA

This place is located on Stock Island and was my first visit here since I didn't know it existed…read moreand I've been to Key West maybe 8 times. It is more a forest than a Botanical garden, and in the June heat and humidity, use insect spray for sure! I love Strangler Fig trees, and there were plenty of them. Plant signage was everywhere, there is a stand with plants for sale. I was lucky to be there when the Nursery employee was there and brought me back to the Nursery where there were so many more varieties of plants. They are all very reasonably priced. I bought a small Soursop tree for $10 and another vine type plant with a trellis for $10. I enjoyed the experience, but don't expect the typical Botanical Garden.

We loved our visit to the US Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum in Key West. Touring one of…read morethe most decorated Coast Guard ships in history was fascinating and totally worth the time. The self-guided tour lets you explore the ship's quarters, radio room, galley, and even a barbershop at your own pace and really gives a great sense of what life was like on board. The ship is very well preserved was amazing to see. Just a heads up that the stairs throughout the ship are narrow and quite steep, which is something to keep in mind if mobility is a concern or you're visiting with young kids. It's a unique, educational experience and an easy 5-star stop if you're in Key West and want something a little different from the usual tourist spots.

What an interesting tour! You get to walk around the ship and experience its history. It's so cool…read moreto see what it was like to live on the ship many years before. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for something to do!

SO MUCH FUN!. got "Flamingle"tickets for my sons birthday and it was awesome. Its in the Key…read moreWest Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and held after hours for a maximum 6 people. The flamingos, Rhett and Scarlett, come out and interact with the folks. The male had a love affair with my sons hat. Was a blast

How does it feel to a have an up-close and personal encounter with two exotic pink flamingos?…read moreNature lovers can find out during the exclusive "Flamingle" experience at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory -- believed to be the only butterfly facility in the entire United States that also houses flamingos. "Flamingle" is a separate event from the regular Key West Butterfly ticket, which gives you access to the popular conservatory, which is 5,000-square-foot glass-domed rainforest-like habitat where there are about 1,000 butterflies from 50 to 60 species flying around. The flamingos, a male and female, are called Rhett and Scarlett in honor of their coloration and obvious affection for each other. Coincidentally, since the species is often associated with love and romance, these prized wading birds were born on Valentine's Day 2012. They arrived at the Key West facility in July 2013 -- and as they grew, their colorful pink plumage, social nature and foot-patting "dance" in their wading pond made them visitor favorites. During the hour-long "Flamingle" encounter, we had a chance to take many pictures with them and just enjoy the beautiful green space...just a great experience. Each experience is limited to 6 participants total, so book ahead if you are planning to do this !!!