This was a nice stop on our recent trip to the keys. It is a smaller museum (we were probably there 30-45 minutes) but it's packed with lots of treasure to look at and things to learn about shipwrecks. At the end you get to go out to their watch tower which has a nice view. It's right next to an aquarium and some other things to do so it's definitely worth adding it in if you're planning a trip! read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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While it takes only about 30 minutes to get through, the Treasure Museum is cozy, sweet and well maintained. Many amazing artifacts for viewing, learning, and some you can touch/life. The climb up the tower is fun and the views wonderfully amazing! read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

We did a combo ticket with Key West Aquarium, and visited here after our visit there. It was ok. It was a fairly small building on 3 floors and although a lot of stuff was on display, I felt like there wasn't much that held my interest. Honestly, I'm not much of a ship wreck enthusiast, so this is just MY interpretation. If shipwrecks are your thing, I'm sure you'll really enjoy it. There were 3 things I did like about our visit here: 1) we got the opportunity to lift a real 64lb silver bar from an actual shipwreck 2) we got to climb a lookout tower and get an overall view of Key West 3) we learned that the great-great-grandfather of the Baldwin Brothers (Alec, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel) was the captain of a ship that wrecked off Key West in 1856 as a result of a hurricane When you enter the museum, you go downstairs to a theater room. It turns out that you are below sea level at this point. There a few artifacts here, and a short movie, but the majority of items are on the 3 floors above. Except for the stairwells leading into and out of the lowest level, the other stairwells are partitioned into left and right sides to make traffic flow between floors a lot easier. There is everything from crockery and dinnerware to navigational instruments. Weapons and actual treasure. Ship parts and antique diving suits. As others have said, it was something to do to kill time. I did learn an interesting fact or two, but for me, I see no real need to go back; there is a lot more to see in Key West! 131/2025 read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - View of the Gulf from the tower. - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

Was back and forth on 4 or 5 stars for this. I wouldnt make a trip down just for this as it is a relatively small museum, maybe about 30min to go through the whole thing, but its also pretty cheap and in a great location to go from this to the aquarium and then the mall so take that for what it is. At the end you also get to climb to the top of the lookout tower and get an amazing view of key west. They do have some cool artifacts and the staff are all super friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - View from lookout tower - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Fun lil spot. The staff is knowledgeable and you can tell they enjoy their job. It's a nice stop to take a break from the sun. I liked it!

We have walked by here a few times on our past trips but this was our first visit. We didn't find the subject matter very exciting but the museum is packed with lots of artifacts and stories about them which I guess would be cool to the right person. It was an ok way to kill 30 minutes. The lookout tower was the best part. Amazing views! read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

If you need to get your steps in for the day, climbing the stairs here will allow you to accomplish your goal along with taking in a lovely 360 degree view of Key West, Florida. There doesn't appear to be an elevator here, so you need to be fit enough to climb the stairs. They do have landing platforms along the way up where you can stop, catch your breath, enjoy the view, and even ring a ship's bell to alert everyone around that you have made it up another flight of stairs. Be aware that the viewing tower is outside. You will be exposed to the elements, so bring a hat that you can secure on your head to protect you from the rays. If it is too windy, they will close the tower. The museum was inside in the first few floors. It was dark. I actually had trouble viewing the items and reading the text because of this. Also, it wasn't presented in a memorable, organized, and meaningful way. Having said that, I did manage to view a few artifacts from various shipwrecks that I was initially unfamiliar with, but I ended up learning the name and exactly how the item was used. Our admission ticket was included because we bought a multi-museum pass from the aquarium across the plaza. Was it worth it? It's a toss up. We really wanted to get the bird's eye view of the city and see the surrounding ocean. I wouldn't do it again. The climbing tower is a good way to burn off energy if you have kids that you need to wear out. I actually preferred the Ficher Museum because they did a much better job of presenting an intriguing shipwreck story. read more

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We enjoyed seeing the artifacts and reading the history of the wrecks and the beginnings of salvaging treasure! Honestly, I would have paid just to climb the platform! What a view! You don't get the opportunity to view the Gulf and the Atlantic at the same time very often! read more

The Key West Shipwreck Museum was part of a combination tour purchased on the Norwegian Pearl. When my family was going through the door I was stopped and told they needed to take my walker before I entered because there were too many stairs inside. I had recent surgeries that I'm still recovering from and still need a walker to get around. Because I am temporarily handicapped I couldn't enter this establishment. My family said it was okay but the whole exhibition is climbing stairs and it would be too difficult for me to see the contents without more physical therapy. I DO NOT recommend this establishment. read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - They need a new building so permanently disabled or temporarily disabled people can actually enter the building - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

This museum is located in Key West's Mallory Square, a popular tourist area. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. If you plan on going to the aquarium you can get a combo ticket and save a few bucks. This museum is about Wreckers, people who goods from ships that sank along the continental United States' only living coral barrier reef, which runs parallel to the Keys. I guess they get their name from shipwrecks. The staff there is very friendly, energetic and helpful. You start you tour in a dark theater with wooden benches, and a movie about shipwrecks and treasure that runs about 20 minutes on loop. I bypassed the movie and went up stairs to the exhibit area. On the level. in the center of the room was the friendliest guy, who was very knowledgable about the museum and explained many of the exhibits to visitors. He did work for tips, but was worth it. The first level has recovered items from sunk ships, featuring artifacts from the shipwrecked Isaac Allerton. the richest shipwreck in Key West's history. You will see dishes, ammunition, medicine bottles, navigation tools and There is.another level of the museum that has a few more artifacts and exhibits on the divers and the impact that the railroad had on ships and wreckers. This level is also where you exhibit on to a deck to take a flight of stairs up to the 65 foot observation tower. The stairs are no joke, but the view from up there is awesome. You can see for miles and miles. It is also a great photo/selfie spot. You are supposed to ring a bell up there if you see a ship wreck. There was another movie that was playing on a loop just before I exited and I skipped that one too. I took me about 40 minutes to go through this museum. It was interesting and entertaining enough. For me, there was something missing, I just could not put my finger on it though. This is still something to see while in Key West. I would probably couple it with a few other stops on the itinerary. There is a bunch of nearby attractions, including the aquarium, tours, and gift shops. read more

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Great visit! A lot of information and history about the coast of Key West and ships from the past. A lot of things to see and a great climb to the top of the tower to see from above. A must see when you go to Key West! read more

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A wonderful place for kids and adults. The view from the top of the tower is wonderful read more

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Definitely a tourist trap. The family did this and the aquarium package. It killed an hour and was good for the kids. It's something to do, just temper your expectations. The lookout tower was cool but there was a big cruise ship docked that day so the views were not great. It's a one and done activity. read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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An exciting history lesson and great views from the top of the tower! Ishmael gave a lot of great insight on each item. read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Definitely a cool spot to visit for multiple reasons. Great place to take in a little local history, see some great artifacts & have a bird's eye view of Key West from their tower. The outdoor market nearby was a bonus. read more

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The crown jewel of this is the view from the tower. The museum has some interesting artifacts, but is not organized in a way that is super engaging. The stuff is neat, but not super captivating. Again, maybe a little expensive for the value of what you get. Some of the videos that play in there are pretty dated as well. read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Three of us, my husband, myself, and our 12-year old daughter, visited this during our week-long stay in Key West. The outside looks inticing, but the inside was mediocre. There was one gentleman in period-appropriate attire on the main level offering random facts as people went by different things to view. He knew his information and was kind to interact with. His presence and random facts was unexpected, and so was the tip jar for him. It's really a go at your own pace museum. You only get out of it what you take the time to read and look at. We learned about shipwrecks and saw some artifacts. There are a lot of stairs to navigate the museum and more to go to the top of the tower. We did it all and spent maybe 1 hour doing the entire thing. If you have a love of history and are interested in learning more about shipwrecks, this is for you. I don't think small kids would enjoy it. There is nothing to interact with, most things are high-up for viewing and you have to be able to read and/or have someone who can read to you explain what you're looking at. Take the Ghost and Graveyards tour and you get to go inside the museum and hear other things about it during that time if you really want to get a glimpse of the museum and decide whether or not to go. This place is not ADA accessible and if you aren't able to do stairs easily, I wouldn't recommend it either. read more

In town for the week and had a few things on the To Do List. This was one of them, we opted to get a combo deal - Old Towne Trolley, Key West Aquarium and this - just over $180 for two. Did the trolley - great experience. Did the Aquarium - small, but okay - we love aquariums. We spoke to three different people who work the Shipwreck museum and asked if my wife will be able to do it with her walker - sure, no problem. We get to the front entrance and the attendant said you should leave the walker here and go in - WHAT? How are you not handicapped accessible?!?! As soon as you open the door there are steps SMH IF YOU HAVE ANY MOBILITY ISSUE - don't bother and don't waste your money like we did. read more

The Shipwreck Museum is a fun experience but not a place you can spend too much time, which makes it kind of overpriced. There are some cool displays and the music/entryway vaguely reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney, probably because of the music and the atmosphere plus the unique smell. (If you've been on that ride before, you'll immediately know what I'm talking about.) Climbing up the tower is the best part, in my opinion! read more

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Yeah, super touristy, but probably the best view from above in Key West. I definitely prefer this than the Key West Lighthouse cus you can get a nice view of Mallory Square and the waters for about the same price. It's one of those places you visit once and you're good. So, definitely would recommend if you never been before and want to learn a little bit more about shipwrecks. They have a lot of into actually in the two levels that's all decked out. There's a person dressed up on the first floor that's available for questions too which I thought was nice. Other than that, that's about it! read more

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Interesting little museum. You go back in time to the 19th century when shipwrecks were a common occurrence in Key West. It's pretty cool if you are into history, ships, and piracy. The artifacts are recovered from actual wrecks. There is a silver bar that you can pick up. It's heavier than I expected. They also play interviews, film clips, and undersea footage. I was bummed out that the observation tower was closed. The admission price for adults is $16. There is a discount if you purchase online. Key West locals get in free the first Sunday of the month. 4 stars. read more

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We really learned a lot about the history of all of the shipwrecks that were salvaged off of Key West. So much of the wealth of Key West came from salvaging. The museum also opens earlier than the other museums in the area on a Sunday morning. It was a nice way to start the day. Loved climbing the tower. Great view. Worth the climb!!! read more

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Just starting off, I love historic memorabilia. I also love pirates or anything that has to do with the mysterious sea. The bottom portion of the museum was spooky and smelt like the ocean. Super authentic. We went during the day but when you get inside, it's very dark. There are rows of seats in the bottom, along with a screen playing some informational stuff. When we walked up the stairs, we were greeted by a lady dressed in some themed attire. She was amazing! Super informational with everything we asked about. She went above and beyond telling us history about different subjects. I get some people don't like to speak with others, but I didn't mind conversing with her at all. I lifted the silver bar. It was heavy but I was able to do it. We walked outside and to the top of the place. We had one of the best views of Key West up there. There is a live cam up there too. Overall, great place to visit for a quick tour and some fun information about old relics and shipwrecks. read more

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A museum dedicated to the wealth that came to Key West through Salvaging . I can't say that it would take a long time to go through, unless you read every word and linger over every thing and picture that this will take you much longer than a half hour, but it's a nice way to spend some time and learn something new. And on a hot afternoon in Key west, the AC would be nice, lets not forget that. read more

Toured the shipwreck museum while on a cruise as we had time to kill. Admission was $16-18 per person. It seeMed steep for what you got in return. Learning the history and seeing real treasure recovered was fun. Climbing the tower and getting a birds eye view was the highlight for me. The place gives you an experience of what hunting treasures would be like from the video they show. About halfway through the building there was a tour guide who was very nice and informative. The only tip I would leave is if you don't do stairs for mobility purposes this is not the place to visit. read more

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Very cool museum in Key West. So story goes that in 1622 a Spanish ship named Atocha sank in a hurricane somewhere close to Key West. The ship had departed from Havana and was two days out when it was overwhelmed by the storm. Fast forward 1969, Mel Fisher a treasure hunter begins his search for the Atocha. Not until 1973-1975 that he discoverers silver bars and cannons belonging to the ship. Then the real battle between the state of Florida and Mel's salvage company begins. Eventually the Supreme Court favors Mels company and awards him full rights to all found treasure in 1982. read more

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Good family fun. Lots of history. We find museums like this full of knowledge to share with the kids and then we review over dinner or on the patio of a local spot. Informed staff and not too cheesy. Purchased this with the trolley tour offer. Great additions to get out of the sun or the rain. Walk the tower and see the amazing panoramic view all around key west! read more

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Was good touristy fun, learning about shipwrecks and salvaging. America's first millionaires were salvagers from the Keys, who knew? A menagerie of interesting things, Keys bits and shipwrecker's baubles, stuffed into a few chock full rooms, all worth taking in. Definitely a sight to see. We didn't get to hike up the tower because it was too windy ...but I wasn't exactly looking forward to it either ;) read more

Fun Museum! Can take fun photos here. If in the area definitely stop by it's a must See! read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

We added this at a discounted rate when we went to the Aquarium. As you enter there is an odd musty smell and a video playing. The museum has some interesting artifacts and history of the Shipwreck treasure hunters from years ago. The main attraction for most is the tower which on a windy day (like then day we visited) can be scary to climb. My daughter went up one flight and was too scared to go further. It's an interesting place to visit...but for me it's a been there done that and I am okay not to visit again. read more

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This was my 4th visit to this exhibit in the last decade or so, I came this time during fantasy fest, its still a lot of fun to see the artifacts being brought up from the Gulf, upstairs they have artifacts from a slave ship, the bottom floor is the Atocha. read more

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Thought this museum was pretty interesting. The videos help set up the experience. The gentleman cast mate was super enthusiastic and friendly. Interesting to learn that KW benefitted constantly on the spoils of shipwrecks and an industry was built. read more

this museum was very unique and interesting to visit. only down fall was that it was a bit small but it was pretty affordable

Unique ship wreck artifacts, tour guide insight was helpful, videos along the way offer information and nice visuals for what key west used to be like back in the 1700 -1800s. The tower offers gorgeous views you need to see for yourself read more

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5 Stars!!!!! Don't get much better n this! I've done this museum a few times before. What's new? Charlotte is. Who is she? I don't rightfully know but her narrating skills and the part she plays as a 1800's wreckers wife is not short of phenomenal. Well versed and knowledgeable and a plethora of info, this lady could very well be reincarnated. The museum is cram packed and full of old salvaged memorabilia and artifacts from days gone by. Every time I come through I find things I overlooked before. If your feeling adventurous and really want a birds eye view of Key West and her surrounding waters climb the tower. The view is breath taking. Feeling really tough? Try and lift the real solid silver bar on display. Definitely the best bang for the buck and a great time for all ages especially the young pirates in the family. read more

The shipwreck museum is super cool for what it is. It is a little cheesy with some interesting information. The silver is super cool. It is awesome that you can touch it too! It is by far the oldest thing I have ever touched. Usually you aren't allowed to, but you can here, at least the silver bar. The highlight is absolutely the walk up top the lookout. This is the prettiest view of Key West you will get. The tickets are way over priced, but if you buy online you get a little discount and one time is definitely worth it. read more

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Very interesting. Great view at the top. The "Captain" inside was full of interesting facts and fun stories.

This is a very cool place to learn about the history of Key West. It's open most of the day so you can buy your tickets and show up whenever you want. Very cool stuff inside. Some amazing history about Key West that most people never knew will be learned here. read more

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This was very informative. It was worth going for the historical value as well as the legends. read more

Key West Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Pretty cool place. Smells like a shipwreck with neat little artifacts. Guide said you could be there for 45 minutes. Unless you read at a 1st grade level and walk 2mph... you'll prob be in there 15 minutes tops They also have this tower you can climb up that's about 4 flights. At the top you get this beautiful view of the water and keys area. read more