The 10 Best Historic Sites in Key West, Florida (FL)

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Key West Garden Club has tropical gardens set in historical Fort West Martello Tower. 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 the West Martello Tower, a National Historic site where the Club 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 the beautiful gardens!

Discover the rich history of Key West’s shipwrecking past at the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum. Shipwreck artifacts, including a silver bar you can hold, fill the museum that is recreation of 19th century wrecker’s warehouse. A lookout tower and audio-visual displays share with guests the experiences of the dangerous world of ship wreckers. Storytellers, in period costume, bring history to life with tales ensuring a fun and fascinating experience for the entire family.

This Caribbean Colonial House dating from the 1830s features original furnishings, rare antiques and unusual marine artifacts collected by the Porters, a notable Key West family.