Pura vida in Key West!
Duval StreetDuval Street is Key West's main tourist strip, with restaurants and shops designed to entertain tourists and cruise ship passengers. This is the place to begin, or perhaps end, a day of sightseeing. Historic homes and some of the city's most popular tourist attractions can be found along Duval.
|
Ernest Hemingway Home and MuseumHemingway was one of the first important writers to live in Key West. He bought this 1851 Spanish Colonial house in 1931 and lived in it until 1940. It features his lush tropical garden and the salt-water pool that he claimed nearly wiped him out financially, and contains his "last penny" pressed into the concrete. Descendants of Hemingway's original brood of house cats still roam the property. He wrote a number of novels here including "A Farewell to Arms", "Death in the Afternoon", and "For Whom the Bell Tolls".
Address: 907 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040-7473, United States Official site: hemingwayhome.com |
Southernmost PointKey West's claim to fame as the southernmost point in the continental U.S.A. is made concrete in this red, black and yellow marker at the corner of South and Whitehead streets. Street vendors and performers congregate around the site to sell souvenirs and showcase their talents. The marker itself is less than inspiring but nonetheless, visitors often have their picture taken at the marker. It was erected in the early 1980s.
|
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is an archipelago of seven reef islands located around 65 miles southwest of Key West. They were so named by explorer Ponce de Leon due to the number of turtles (tortuga meaning turtle in Spanish) found on the islands. The "dry" part was added later, referring to the lack of fresh water on the islands. One of them, Garden Key, is home to the 19th century Fort Jefferson, built by the U.S. government to protect and control the Gulf of Mexico shipping channel. The fort operated as a prison for Union deserters during the civil war and also housed Dr. Samuel Mudd who was arrested as a co-conspirator in Abraham Lincoln's assassination. In 1992, George Bush changed the status of the site from the Fort Jefferson National Monument to the current park run by the National Park Service.Boat excursions to the Dry Tortugas leave from Key West. Official site: nps.gov/drto/index.htm |
Bahia Honda State Park
Featuring an award winning beach and historic bridge, Bahia Honda State Park at mile marker 37 in the Florida Keys has become a favorite destination for visitors to our island paradise. The park, encompassing over 500 acres and an offshore island offers some of the best snorkeling and beachcombing in Florida. The perfect and quiet getaway for the entire family. The concession service provider offers a complete gift shop, snack bar, kayak rentals and daily snorkeling tours to the fabulous Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. The concessions are operated by the Coral Reef Park Co. Address: 36850 Overseas Hwy., Bahia Honda Key, Big Pine Key, Big Pine Key, FL 33043 Official site: bahiahondapark.com |
Harry S. Truman
|
Martello TowersThe Martello Towers are two brick fortifications, built in 1858 to protect Fort Zachary Taylor from the east. The fort was never completed and never saw hostile action although the eight-foot thick granite walls would have withstood artillery attacks. The central tower provides a spectacular panoramic view of the Atlantic coast of Key West.
The West Martello Tower and Garden Center was constructed in the 1860s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Key West Garden Club took possession of the fort in 1955 and began a cleanup and planting to beautify the dilapidated fort. Today visitors can stroll the grounds, through lovely courtyards and gardens. Romantic pathways, arches, a waterfall, and water lily pond are some of the highlights. The East Martello Tower was originally built as a complement to Fort Zachary Taylor to protect the region. It now houses the Martello Gallery-Key West Art and Historical Museum, with a diverse collection of local art and sculpture, and other exhibits related to the development of Key West. Official site: kwahs.com |
Audubon House and GalleryThis 1840's home was built by ship carpenters for Captain John Greiger, a noted harbor pilot and wrecker. Colonel Mitchell Wolfson restored it in the 1960's initiating the subsequent preservation movement in the rest of Key West. The property is noteworthy both for the house and the beautiful gardens and grounds. The house contains many 18th and 19th century period furnishings, much of it from Europe, and a substantial collection of engravings by John James Audubon, who stayed here in 1832. The gardens in the back contain a variety of tropical plants including birds of paradise, hibiscus, and different palms.
Visitors are given a guided tour the Audubon House and then given the opportunity to explore on their own and take time to appreciate the grounds. Address: 205 Whitehead Street Official site: audubonhouse.com |
Key West Lighthouse and Keepers QuartersThis lighthouse was built in 1847 and stands 86 ft high. Visitors can climb up for great views from the observation deck near the top. The original lighthouse keepers house was torn down in the 1880s and replaced with the current structure. It has been well restored and today houses a museum, furnished to recreated the early 20th C. A short video provides an interesting look at the history of the Key West Lighthouse. Photos and other artifacts are also on display.
Address: 938 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, United States Official site: kwahs.org/visit/lighthouse-keepers-quarters/ |
Key West AquariumThe Key West Aquarium first opened its doors in 1934, making it one of the first open-air aquariums in the U.S. For practical purposes of algae control, a roof was later added and the facility was upgraded.
Exhibits include the "Atlantic Shores" and the large outdoor holding pens. A number of tanks house local marine life including puffer fish, snappers, and angelfish. There are also tanks with barracuda and sharks, and a "touch tank" which allows visitors to get up close and personal with conch, starfish and other invertebrates. During the tours visitors can watch the sharks being fed and touch a juvenile nurse shark. Address: 1 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, United States Official site: keywestaquarium.com |
Mel Fisher Maritime MuseumThe Mel Fisher Maritime Museum tells the story of Mel Fisher who discovered the wreck of "Senora Nuestra de Atocha", a Spanish Galleon that sank 40 miles off Key West during a 1622 hurricane. The museum displays numerous artifacts from this wreck and others, including a 77.76 carat emerald and several other gold and silver religious and functional items. There are also exhibits on underwater archaeology, films and hands-on demonstrations.
Address: 200 Greene Street, Key West, FL 33040-6516, United States Official site: melfisher.org |
Conch Tour TrainThe Conch Tour Train is a tourist trolley which makes stops at various locations in the town and surrounding area. The tour includes the Old Town, Duval Street, Hemingway's House, and the waterfront. It offers perspective on the railroad days, the depression, and WWII, as they relate to Key West.This is a good way to learn the history and see the sights.
Official site: conchtourtrain.com |
Shipwreck Treasure MuseumThe Shipwreck Treasure Museum is housed in the replica of a 19th century wrecker's warehouse with exhibits tracing the history of the salvage industry in the area. Many people made their livelihoods from shipwrecks, and were known as wreckers. Actors in period costume recount the story of the "Isaac Allerton", which sank in 1856. Artifacts from the shipwreck are displayed and visitors can also watch films and videos on the subject. A 65-foot observation tower offers good views of the surrounding land and seascape.
Address: 1 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, United States Official site: keywestshipwreck.com |