What it's like
The Society runs four museums in Key West, each one a different piece of the island's past. Fort East Martello is one of them. It was built as a supporting artillery battery, and one of the Martello Towers survives today as a gallery. The Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters and the Tennessee Williams Museum round out the group.
A visit is a walk through town. The Art & History museum has two floors of exhibits on two centuries of history, art, and people. Fort East Martello holds Civil War relics and island folk art. The Tennessee Williams Museum has a current show on the playwright and the painter. Each site can be visited on its own, so you can pick one or two.
Good to know
- Museums are in town and walkable, so you can see them on foot without a tour.
- The main museum has two floors of exhibitions covering two centuries of history, art, people, and events.
- Fort East Martello is a former fort that holds Civil War relics and local folk art.
Key West Art & Historical Society
The Key West Art & Historical Society runs four museums across the island, each with its own focus on the Florida Keys. Visitors come for the history, the old fort, the lighthouse, and the playwright's home in town.
Tours that go here
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Old Town and Duval area
The Old Town and Duval area is the walkable heart of Key West, where historic homes, courtyards and gardens sit beside a busy strip of shops, bars and cafes.
Harry S. Truman Little White House
A small historic retreat on Front Street where President Harry S. Truman spent working vacations. Guided tours walk you through the house and grounds.
Ernest Hemingway House
Hemingway's former home on Whitehead Street, now a historic house museum. Visitors tour the rooms and walk the grounds where the famous six-toed cats roam.
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
A free natural history museum at Truman Annex Waterfront, with a 2,500-gallon reef aquarium and a short film on the Keys.
The same kind of day, elsewhere
Museums
