Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Museums, Key West
Search:

Key West Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Museums, Key West

Museums tips and photos posted by real travelers and Key West locals.
• 50 Photos
• 36 Reviews

See all Key West Things To Do
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Museums: Mel Fisher Treasure Exhibit & Museum
  • Tip Rating:
  • starship
  • Updated By starship on March 4, 2008
  • Key West Page by starship
  • Mel Fisher Museum - Key West
    Mel Fisher Museum
    by starship, 1 more photos
    Mel Fisher was a man with a dream -- to locate sunken galleons and retrieve the treasurers which they had carried. He was widely successful and subsequently opened several locations in Florida where the treasurer from Spanish Galleons and the like could be seen and appreciated by the common man. His finds were quite incredible. But one must remember that just finding these sunken ships is an art in itself.

    Key West is lucky to have the Mel Fisher Heritage Society, Museum and Exhibit. It is the type of place which should appeal to people of all ages. One current exhibit is the Henrietta Marie* a slave ship which floundered on a reef off of Key West and sunk in July, 1700. The Museum explores the transatlantic slave trade through the history and findings of this ship. The museum actually highlights 4 ships in total and artifacts found.

    The museum if open 365 days a year from 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Current admission is $12.50 adults; $10.00 for students; and $6 for children (2008 prices). Tickets can also be purchased online. Check for reduced prices or savings coupons, but seeing these exhibits is definitely worth the time and effort. Don't forget to visit the giftshop! I still have a pair of cloisonne earrings I purchased at one of Mel's smaller exhibit/museums in Sebastian, Florida. The Key West Museum store, no doubt, also has great gifts.

    If you like diving, read "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson!! It is a noon-fiction book about wreck divers discovering and uncharted WWII sub off the coast of New Jersey!! It's fantastic!!!

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 200 Green Street, Key West
  • Phone: 305-294-2633
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Key West?

    Read reviews about Key West Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Museums: Heritage House Museum and Robert Frost Cottage
  • Tip Rating:
  • grandmaR
  • Updated By grandmaR on March 13, 2004
  • Key West Page by grandmaR
  • Heritage House Museum - Key West
    Heritage House Museum
    by grandmaR
    When we walked from the Oldest House/Wrecker's Museum (which was worth a visit) to the Truman White House (which we decided was NOT going to be worth the money so we didn't tour it) we passed this museum, which was one that I had been totally unaware existed. I think it was 'after our time', and that Jessie Porter was still living there when we lived in Key West although I cannot find out the date when she died.

    Among other notables, Robert Frost was an old friend of Miss Jessie and spent many winters staying in her garden cottage. I found this surprising because I think of Robert Frost as quintessentially New England, with snow and rock walls.

    Jessie Porter was instrumental in creating the Old Island Restoration Foundation, which started with the Audubon House.

    The Porter house which is now the museum has columned porches on two floors, a white picket fence and an array of antiques and seafaring artifacts. Robert Frost's cottage is also here and is open to tours. Admission is $6 adults, $1 for children 12-18, with other children admitted free.

    I was also totally unaware that the three houses (Audubon (admission $9), Oldest House (admission$5) and Heritage House) are all open for tours 10am to 4:00pm Monday through Saturday on a single ticket which is $15.00 - available at the Heritage House Museum, 410 Caroline Street, during museum hours.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 410 Caroline Street
  • Phone: 305/ 296-3573
  • Website: http://www.heritagehousemuseum.org/html/mainFrameset.htm
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Museums: Jose Marti museum, a small charmer for tourists.
  • Tip Rating:
  • jelw
  • Updated By jelw on October 25, 2008
  • Key West Page by jelw
  • Jose Marti - Key West
    Jose Marti
    by jelw
    This is without a doubt a hoakey "museum." It does however offer something of interest for children and adults.
    The Jose Marti display is well worth a quick visit. This is an integral part of the history of Key West.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: At Pepitos
  • Directions: Behind Pepes at Pepitos on Mallory Square
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Museums: Mel Fisher's Museum & his gold bars
  • Tip Rating:
  • evalynn
  • By evalynn on November 6, 2004
  • Key West Page by evalynn
  • gold bars - Key West
    gold bars
    by evalynn
    What a great place to go if you're a history buff. Notice in the photo, you can see all the spanish writing...just amazing. And the musuem lets you hold a gold bar!!!!

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 200 Greene Street, Key West, Florida 33040
  • Phone: 305/294-2633
  • Directions: near Mallory Square
  • Website: http://www.melfisher.org/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Museums: Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
  • Tip Rating:
  • goingsolo
  • By goingsolo on April 20, 2005
  • Key West Page by goingsolo
  • Key West - Key West
    Key West
    by goingsolo
    Mel Fisher is famous for his search for buried treasure amidst shipwrecks. After decades of searching, Mel finally hit it big in 1985 and discovered the remains of a ship which sank just off the coast of Key West in the 1600s. After a long legal battle, which I recall hearing about in vague detail, Mel Fisher was proclaimed the victor and received the spoils of this undersea buried treasure, valued in the hundreds of millions.

    The maritime museum has exhibits and a video which explain the dangerous and costly process of recovering shipwrecks. Some of the finds from the 1985 shipwreck are on display here as well.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 200 Greene Street
  • Directions: Just South of Duval Street
  • Website: www.melfisher.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Key West?

    Read reviews about Key West Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Museums: Museum of Art & History at the Custom House
  • Tip Rating:
  • tpangelinan
  • By tpangelinan on May 22, 2003
  • Key West Page by tpangelinan
  • The Custom House - Key West
    The Custom House
    by tpangelinan
    Front & Greene Sts.
    Open Daily, 9-5
    Can't miss it, building completed in 1891, restored over a 9 year period at $9million dollar cost.
    Housed Federal and District Courts, Post Office and Customs.
    Now is a beautiful Art & History Museum
    Rates are:
    $6.00 Adults
    $5.00 Seniors & Locals
    $4.00 Children

    Leave a Comment

  • Phone: 305-295-6616
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Museums: Free Museum
  • Tip Rating:
  • grandmaR
  • Updated By grandmaR on May 19, 2005
  • Key West Page by grandmaR
  • My dad looking at turtles in the kraals in 1967 - Key West
    My dad looking at turtles in
    the kraals in 1967
    by grandmaR, 3 more photos
    In the old days, sea turtles were kept in kraals or pens until they were used for turtle soup. The tower was so that people could look down into the pens and see how many turtles there were. That's because (as you can see) due to reflections and the fact that the turtles might be overlapping it wasn't possible to see how many there were from pier level. In the picture, my dad is looking at the sea turtles in these pens.

    Here on the docks, the first Key West Turtle Cannery opened in 1849. Key West's turtle industry flourished until the 1970s, when its closure was forced because of a diminishing population of green turtles in the Caribbean.

    Then in 1973 (we left the island in 1968) the endangered species act protected all sea turtles and the Turtle Kraals museum was opened at the site of Key West's first turtle cannery. The Museum offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of the industry, to view a live sea turtle and to help ensure the survival of these prehistoric animals.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 200 Margaret Street Key West
  • Phone: (305) 294-0209
  • Directions: Behind Turtle Kraal restaurant on Key West Bight off Margaret Street
  • Website: http://www.seaturtlemuseum.org/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Museums: West Martello Tower: Key West Garden Club
  • Tip Rating:
  • Ericasmurf99
  • Updated By Ericasmurf99 on January 7, 2007
  • Key West Page by Ericasmurf99
  • Museums - Key West
    by Ericasmurf99, 4 more photos
    I stumbled on this place while checking out Higgs Beach. This place was way better than the beach! The local garden club has planted some amazing flowers and trees here and they take care of it very well. The tower is interesting too; very old war-time architecture.

    Garden club is donation only.

  • Directions: Next to Higgs Beach
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Museums: Visit the San Carlos Institute
  • Tip Rating:
  • mafootje
  • Updated By mafootje on August 26, 2007
  • Key West Page by mafootje
  • San Carlos Institute Key West - Key West
    San Carlos Institute Key West
    by mafootje
    This institute was founded in 1871 by Cuban exiles. They came to Key West to organize the campaign for Cuba's indepence. It was named after Seminario San Carlos. The first building was made from wood and located on Anne Street.

    They moved to a larger builiding in 1874 which was destroyed in the large Key West fire in 1886.

    The building on this picture was completed in 1924.
    The institute is a place of pilgrimage for the Cuban people. The famous Opera Star Enrico Caruso has performed here, but there also have been speeches from the balcony by Cuban Patriot Jose Marti.

    The San Carlos is open daily except Mondays. Guided tours and film presentations are offered hourly in English and Spanish.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 516 Duval Street
  • Phone: (305) 294-3887
  • Website: http://www.si.edu/postal/pichs/isc.htm
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Museums: Flagler Station - Over Seas Railway Historium
  • Tip Rating:
  • grandmaR
  • Updated By grandmaR on August 16, 2003
  • Key West Page by grandmaR
  • Building with the blue roof is the Flagler Station - Key West
    Building with the blue roof is
    the Flagler Station
    by grandmaR
    Has train exhibits that you pay to see and a gift shop that is free. It is also near a sightseeing train stop, so you can shop while you are waiting.

    I did browse in the gift shop, but didn't pay to see the exhibits upstairs.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 901 Caroline St.
  • Phone: 305-295-3562
  • Directions: Near the parking garage
  • Website: www.flaglerstation.net
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Key West Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 250 - Photos: 206
    Things To Do
    Tips: 551 - Photos: 757
    Nightlife
    Tips: 192 - Photos: 156
    Transportation
    Tips: 141 - Photos: 122
    Restaurants
    Tips: 360 - Photos: 282
    Shopping
    Tips: 57 - Photos: 59
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 136 - Photos: 170
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 71 - Photos: 39
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 91 - Photos: 69
    Local Customs
    Tips: 75 - Photos: 76
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 36 - Photos: 18
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 39 - Photos: 36
    General Tips
    Tips: 169 - Photos: 176
    Flights
    Tips: 12 - Photos: 0

    Best Key West Travel Deals

    Key West Hotels
    Huge Savings on Key West Hotels. Plus No More Change or Cancel Fees.

    Key West Hotels
    Going to Key West? Use Travelzoo To Compare Hotel Rates. Search Now!

    Key West Hotels
    Save Up to 50% with Hotels.com Book Now & Get Low Rate Guarantees

    Map Key West Hotels
    Maps, Photos, Reviews & More. Save on Hotels in Key West, FL.

    Key West Sightseeing Tour
    Water Activities, Tours, & Cruises. Book Online & Save! 888-328-1279

    Sponsored Links

    More Key West Travel Deals

    The Grove Isle Spa Hotel
    Spa and Tennis Packages Available. Private Island Resort Official Site

    Key West Fl Inn
    Free Breakfast, Always Great Rates. Free High Speed Internet, Book Now!

    Lime Tree Bay Resort
    Reserve your cottage in the Florida Keys today!

    Sponsored Links


    Key West Hotels





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.