The 10 Best Historic Sites in Florida Keys, Florida Keys

November 29, 2021 Kaleigh Reichenbach

Stretching 126 miles south toward Cuba, the stunning Keys are a perfect escape. Highlights along the way include Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and the irrepressible Key West. Get up close with an amazing array of fish while snorkeling, diving or fishing in the warm turquoise waters. Creeks, coral and costumed spectacles are other lures along the way. Highway 1 is a spectacular ribbon tying together the islands and atolls of this paradise between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.
Restaurants in Florida Keys

81599 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036-3711 +1 305-619-9924 [email protected] http://www.artbypasta.com
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5.0 based on 11 reviews

Pasta Pantaleo Signature Gallery

Located in a historical 1937 Red Cross House we are a Coastal Lifestyle and Marine artwork by local Artist Roberto Pasta Pantaleo. Please stop by and meet the artist. Bring your children in and they will receive a free hand signed poster.

Reviewed By brianrU5058KO

My wife and I came across Pasta's art work at one of the Islamorada restaurant's. We went to the gallery and were really impressed with how he portrays the fish and landscapes of the area. Pasta and his wife took the time to talk to us and help find exactly what we were looking for. They were very cool and passionate about his work. He even touched up and played with one of the paintings to make it just what I was looking for. We ended up buying two pieces to bring home with us. Highly recommend stopping by and if you're lucky - meeting the artist!

2. Hellings House Museum

319 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040-6685 +1 305-294-2039 http://www.HellingsHouseMuseum.com
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5.0 based on 6 reviews

Hellings House Museum

Reviewed By sarah2000 - West Palm Beach, United States

We were in Key West for the day as port visit on our cruise. We have been to Key West many times so we decided to take a walk around town. We happened upon the Hellings House because the lights were on and the grand chandeliers we very sparkly. There were two ladies sitting on the front porch and they invited us in. Turned out they were docents and members of the Key West Woman's Club. We had a lovely tour of the home and we learned a lot about Key West through the years. They do not charge for the tour but there is a guest book and you can make a donation. The Hellings House is a Florida Heritage site. It is worth visiting. The Key West Woman's Club does a lot of great work for the community so it is well worth supporting them with a donation for the tour. We are so glad we stopped in!

3. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040-8395 +1 305-292-6713 https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fort-zachary-taylor-historic-state-park
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4.5 based on 6,798 reviews

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Historic site of a Civil War-era fort, currently being excavated; also has a beautiful beach for swimming and snorkeling.

Reviewed By dansD4938BT - Key West, United States

Fort Taylor has the best beach in Key West the friendly staff that runs the park is excellent they do have a nice concession stand on the beach and chairs and umbrellas to rent highly recommend if you’re going to Key West to spend the day at this place

4. Audubon House & Tropical Gardens

205 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040-6522 +1 305-294-2116 [email protected] http://audubonhouse.org/
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4.5 based on 665 reviews

Audubon House & Tropical Gardens

The home of Capt. John H. Geiger, harbor pilot and master wrecker, was built between 1846 and 1849. Slated for destruction in 1958, it was saved by the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation, a nonprofit educational institution. This large scale restoration was the first of its kind in Key West, thus sparking the restoration movement in Key West.Antique enthusiasts will appreciate the unique quality of the furnishings displayed in the Audubon House Museum. All furnishings reflect the elegance and comfortable living enjoyed for a wealthy family in Key West during the mid-1800’s. 31 of the original hand colored Antique engravings of the 22 birds J.J. Audubon painted in the Florida Keys during his 6 week visit in 1832 can be seen throughout the House. In addition to informative reading panels, an introduction to the property and its history will be given by your guide, and then you will roam the house and gardens at your leisure. Varieties of orchids and bromeliads emerge from the foliage and trees to surprise you with their vibrant blooms. Native plants and exotics provide an environment that is reminiscent of old Key West. Trees and plants are labeled with their common names, Latin names, and country of origin. This is the finest tropical garden in the Florida Keys. You may even catch a glimpse of some of our local birds! The garden tour also includes a self-guided visit to the Cook House. Houses of the period in the Florida Keys did not have inside kitchens as they were sources of heat and of course, fire hazards. A visit to the Audubon Gallery of Fine Arts will take you through the wonderful world of original Audubon Antique hand painted lithographs. The original Antique prints of some of J.J. Audubon’s contemporaries are also available for sale.The Museum Shop offers a wide selection of unique one-of-a-kind gifts, home décor, Antiques and educational materials.Our lush tropical gardens can be the site of your event:, whether you are planning a wedding or a corporate event. Let us make your event happen.

Reviewed By FloridaCasualGal - Orlando, United States

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this historic home in Old Key West. This home has been impeccably maintained, thoroughly researched, and its history has been well-documented. We spent over an hour on a self-guided tour through the house, and we also had fun chatting with the docent about the history of key West. We are big fans of Audubon's work, so it was fascinating to learn about his adventures and his artistic achievements. It was very cool to see all 22 of his Florida Keys birds in one room. The gift shop was awesome, too.

5. Harry S. Truman Little White House

111 Front St, Key West, FL 33040-8311 +1 305-294-9911 [email protected] http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com
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4.5 based on 6,407 reviews

Harry S. Truman Little White House

As Florida’s only presidential museum, the Harry S. Truman Little White House was the winter White House for this country's 33rd president. Truman spent 175 days during 13 vacations in the home that is filled with original furnishing and memorabilia from Truman’s days. Presidents Taft, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter and Clinton also used the house. Guided tours offer guests a window into the world President Truman and life of a US president.

Reviewed By gemflanagan - Strokestown, Ireland

We loved the tour of this house in Key West. It was a great history attached to it and if you're interested in Presidential history then dont miss this attraction in Key West!

6. Fort Jefferson

Dry Tortugas National Park, FL +1 305-242-7700 http://www.drytortugas.com/
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4.5 based on 464 reviews

Fort Jefferson

This is the largest all-masonry fortification in the western hemisphere and served as a Civil War federal prison.

Reviewed By Bassmanblues - Cape Coral, United States

We have been wanting to get here for years so when we got the chance we took it. We were not disappointed. It is a full day trip as it takes the ferry 2 1/2 hours to get there one way, so there is 5 hours of your day. The time at the fort is interesting. You can do the history tour, which I recommend, We planned on snorkeling, but the winds in the previous days had been strong and made the visibility cloudy. We took the rest of our time bird watching as the east side of the island is a bird sanctuary/rookery. The trip back the ferry opens the bar and we enjoyed adult beverages during the trip back. Overall this was a great trip.

7. The Oldest House Museum & Garden

322 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040-6510 +1 305-294-9501 [email protected] http://www.oldesthousekeywest.com
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4.5 based on 518 reviews

The Oldest House Museum & Garden

The Oldest House in South Florida is located at 322 Duval Street in Key West. The house and gardens are open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm every day except Tuesday and Wednesday. Staff and volunteering docents are available to provide historical information about the house and family, and to answer questions. The house features family portraits and original furnishings, as well as other period pieces, ship models, and documents telling the story of old Key West. In the rear of the house is a spacious, peaceful garden, where benches invite you to sit and reflect. There, you will see the only surviving Cook House in South Florida.

Reviewed By TheRebelChick - Miami, United States

I love history and I have always been fascinated by the history of Key West in particular - such a strange and sordid past! I really liked that this museum was free and it was so interesting to learn about what life was like back then. We even saw the captains logs from his time on ship!

8. West Martello Tower

1100 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, FL 33040-4883 +1 305-294-3210 [email protected] http://keywestgardenclub.com
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4.5 based on 612 reviews

West Martello Tower

West Martello Tower has tropical gardens set in a historical fort. Home to Key West Garden Club, it is one of the island's last remaining free tourist attractions with free parking. Our mission is to provide educational opportunities for the community relating to tropical gardening and to this National Historic site. The fort is located on the ocean edge. During these times, your safety is our concern. We are asking visitors to wear masks, observe 6 ft. distancing and limiting your groups to 10 or less. Enjoy our beautiful garden!

Reviewed By barbaraw154

The West Martello Tower is a unique free stop on the waterfront on Atlantic Blvd in Key West. This Civil War fort ruin is now home to the Key West Garden Club and beautifully enhanced with an amazing variety of native and decorative plants that thrive in the sub tropical climate. It is a great picture opportunity and a totally different experience that one would expect in KW.

9. Indian Key State Historic Site

Mile Marker 78.5, Islamorada, FL 33036 +1 305-664-4815 http://www.abfla.com/parks/IndianKey/indiankey.html
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4.5 based on 226 reviews

Indian Key State Historic Site

Reviewed By R2094TOj

Great day trip from Robbie's on a kayak or paddleboard. Well done signage and historical info. So glad we did this!

10. Curry Mansion

511 Caroline St, Key West, FL 33040-6604 +1 305-294-5349 [email protected] http://www.currymansion.com/
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4.5 based on 217 reviews

Curry Mansion

The house was named for William Curry, a penniless Bahamian immigrant who made his fortune reputedly as a salvager -those scurrilous fellows who preyed on shipwrecked travelers in Florida's pirate-infested waters.- Curry attained status as Key West's first millionaire and began building the Mansion in 1869. The architectural details are common to wreckers, incorporating elements of many ports-of-call: the widow's walk of New England, the ornate trellises and balustrades of New Orleans and the columns and colonnades of the Deep South. Curry's son Milton completed the Mansion in 1899, furnishing it with the 18th-century antiques and Victorian pieces gracing the parlor today. The imposing entry is paneled in bird's-eye maple, handwrought spindles and Tiffany glass sliding doors. A formal dining room is staged with Haviland china and faux replicas of the Curry family's original solid-gold Tiffany flatware. An 1853 Chickering piano, reputedly most recently of Henry James's Newport home, sits in the music room. Key Lime Pie was first created in the Curry Mansion kitchen by Aunt Sally. Today the home of innkeeper, Edith Amsterdam, the Mansion is also an intriguing museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Curry Mansion Inn...where the elegance of Key West's past is equaled only by the elegance of it's present.

Reviewed By sunriser8

A grand old mansion filled with lots of vintage and historical details. The owner is super nice and welcomes visitors to come in and look around the house - they even will give a tour if you like. You can go all the way up to the top floor and then take a small ladder through the attic to go out on the Widow's Walk for a nice view of "downtown" Key West. If you have young kids w/ you the owner will even give them a sticker for successfully making it all the way to the top!

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