The cool thing about this museum is that Mel Fisher displays artifacts from two ship wrecks that he…read morediscovered in the keys. There is scuba video of the discoveries that gives the viewer a realistic feel. One discovery, in 1972, was the slave ship Henrietta Marie which sailed in the 1690s and later. In the ship ruins were found several items like shackles and elephant tusks. It wrecked in the western keys. The other discovery was in the 1980s of a Spanish wreck that contained half a billion in gold and silver treasure. Lots of silver coins and gold bars are on display. Both Florida and the Federal Government tried to own the riches but Mel Fisher won in court. The Supreme Court said "finders keepers".

Happy International Museum Day! Here's a brief review of one of the museums I visited on my cruise…read morein March 2026. Although a bit overpriced ($17.50 for adults) for the size and scope of this museum, Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida is an important stop for those interested in maritime archaeology and shipwrecks. This museum, which opened in 2000 in a historic building, focuses on the artifacts from a few 17th-century shipwrecks, especially on the historic find of the Spanish galleon ship, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha which sunk off the Florida Keys in 1622. The history behind the ship, the wreck, and its discovery are all incredible so do a deep dive on your own. As for the museum part of it, the exhibits are pretty permanent - this isn't the kind of place with rotating exhibits - and they could use a dusting/refresh. The gift shop up front is decent, the staff were nice, and the section that focused on the slave ship, Henrietta Marie was a sobering at the cruel treatment and conditions human beings subjected to other human beings. I had a good visit, spending about an hour here in all, and was pleased to have crossed it off my very long list of museums I want to visit!

This self-guided museum may be of interest to a die-hard Williams fan, but for the casual visitor,…read moreit was a bit lackluster. Mostly old playbills and reviews. I was also interested to know that the paintings displayed of Williams' were just prints. The originals are in the Custom House Museum.

"I've always depended on the kindness of strangers", one of Tennessee Williams' more famous lines,…read moremay be relevant to the Yelp experience as well. Useful reviews and kind compliments sent by complete strangers? I'll take that any day! OK now more about the museum itself: The Tennessee Williams Museum is a bright modern (circa 2021) space dedicated to the life and literary works of the famous playwright. The small building houses an impressive collection of material ranging from prints of TW's paintings, first edition books, playbills, videos of his interviews and a model of his home in Key West. Admittedly I'm a major fan, but the place would probably appeal to just about anyone with some interest in Key West's colorful history. Admission is reasonable ($7 for adults and $5 for seniors), with discounts available for pre-booking on the museum website. Friendly helpful staff member allowed me to linger a good long while with no hassle. The gift shop has some great finds as well. A unique and wonderful place all around.

This was my favorite touristy tours we took while visiting Key West. I learned a lot about the area…read moreand President Truman. I was very impressed with the restored home and real lived in items as historic pieces on display. They still have more work to keep this museum going and protected, but it can be done. They also had a nice gift shop, with great tour guides. Bravo!

From 1946 through 1952, President Harry Truman used this house as his winter vacation home, and…read morebecause he spent 175 days of his presidency here, it became known as the Little White House. Originally built by the U.S. Navy in 1890, the Little White House served as naval command headquarters during the Spanish-American War, and also played roles in both World Wars and the Cold War. Since Truman's days, many other presidents have also vacationed here, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Today, the Little White House has been restored and turned into a museum. Also, don't forget to check the famous limousine while you are there. The only way to see inside the Truman Little White House in Key West is via a guided tour. But there is a small section near the gift shop that is free for visitors.

The Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum was one of the most interesting stops we made in Key West…read more We met the owner, who was incredibly kind and took the time to explain the entire museum to us. He also let us interact with several of the props, which made the experience feel much more personal and fun. There is so much to see, including historic firefighting equipment, old uniforms, artifacts, photo opportunities, and fascinating displays about Key West's fire department. We even got to sit behind the desk of Joseph "Bum" Farto, Key West's former fire chief. Bum Farto was a larger-than-life local character who disappeared in 1976 shortly before he was supposed to be sentenced in a federal drug case. He was never found, and many people believe his ghost still haunts the firehouse, especially near his old desk. Naturally, I had to sit in Bum Farto's chair. The moment I did, I accidentally farted, and the result was far more dramatic than expected: a cloud of green fog rolled out from beneath the desk and formed the shape of a tiny demonic firefighter. It let out an evil laugh before vanishing into the ceiling. The owner stared at me in stunned silence. I claimed it was Bum Farto's ghost. My friends pointed out that it was probably just me. Either way, I recommend showing proper respect when sitting in the missing fire chief's chair. It may be haunted or the chair may simply have a very aggressive ventilation system. Bum Farto was a larger-than-life local character who was convicted in a federal drug case and disappeared in 1976 shortly before he was supposed to be sentenced. He was never found and was eventually declared dead in absentia. His disappearance became one of Key West's enduring mysteries, and many people believe his ghost still lingers around the firehouse, particularly near his old desk. The museum displays his desk, uniform, and other belongings, so naturally I sat down and immediately began wondering whether I was about to be recruited into an afterlife fire department. The museum highlights Bum Farto's desk and mystery, while local haunted-history accounts describe reported encounters with his spirit. Haunted Key West We got some incredible picture opportunities, including behind the desk, and the owner made the entire visit memorable. The museum also offers after-hours ghost tours and paranormal investigations for those brave enough to explore the firehouse after the living staff have gone home. A wonderful museum with tons of history, unusual artifacts, great photo opportunities, and just enough ghostly mystery to make you question every unexplained noise. I highly recommend visiting and if you sit at Bum Farto's desk, be polite. You never know when the missing fire chief might return to ask why you're using his chair.

This museum has more artifacts than any I've ever seen. It's a little off the beaten path, but…read morestill in Old Town, and I highly recommend it! Also, I love that this museum wants you to touch everything! There are signs saying "put on this hat and jacket" to see how you'd look as a firefighter, and "sit in this chair" to pretend to be the fire chief. It was honestly so refreshing and cool after having been in so many other Key West museums where you can't touch anything. The staff were so friendly and helpful, excited to tell stories about the Key West fire department and history. Plus, the museum has a ghost...I mean, it doesn't get better than that!

You have to visit as it is one of the best and unique places to see in the area. The history and…read moreitems on display are amazing. Then, there are 60-very spoiled cats that live in and out the house. Not all have 6-toes, but they all carry the gene. Scott was our tour guide, and he was enthusiastic and engaging. He knew the cat's names, and told you which one not to pet. It was a hot day, which added to the smell of roaming cats. That was the only negative part of the tour for me. However, it was nice to see the 5-kittens outside of their enclosures getting enriched with toys with visitors. What a quality and unique experience.

If you're visiting Key West, the Hemingway House is practically a required stop, but your mileage…read moremay vary depending on what brings you here. We went during the off-season, so we didn't have to wait long for our tour to start or stand in any real line to get in. By the time we were leaving, though, we noticed a small line starting to form. Personally, I wouldn't wait more than five minutes to get inside unless you're a die-hard Hemingway scholar. The tour itself is totally fine, you get to walk through his small, modest home (which thankfully has air conditioning) and check out some historical memorabilia from his life and writing career. It's neat, but straightforward. Honestly, it seems like most people visiting are just cat people, and fair enough, the grounds are littered with six-toed cats, and they are indisputably the real star attraction of the property. On a side note: after our visit, Ernest Hemingway actually appeared to me in a dream. He made a direct request, asking if I could bring him some Krispy Kreme doughnuts because he is utterly exhausted from people bringing him Dunkin' Donuts. I told Papa I'd do what I could, but if there's a long line at the drive-thru, he's out of luck, I'm strictly not waiting in lines on this vacation.

I liked this! I think the ticket price should be lower since there's not much to see, but I loved…read morethe view from the top. Only high up view of Key West I've ever experienced, so it was worth seeing if you like views like this when traveling somewhere. You have to climb the spiral staircase to the top, so I do not recommend it to those who are unable to walk up stairs. It's not too long of an uphill climb, so it's fine for those who are not active. The museum is cute. It takes about 10-20 minutes to walk through the museum if you're stopping to read everything. It wasn't crowded at all, and I went Saturday afternoon in early August.

You get incredible views of Key West from on top of the lighthouse. It is an exhausting 88 steps up…read morebut the view is well worth it. It started to thunder and lightning while we were aloft. That was scary/interesting. The museum and gift shop are nice.

WHAT A BLAST!!! Its similar to Mardi Gras but on a smaller scale but includes the same body…read morepainting and bead necklass wearing and throwing. This is a big October Halloween event in Key West and NOT for kids at all. Very cool parade on Duval Street. Most hotels mandate a 2 or 4 night minimum stay. Just be aware that restaurants and bars are extremely packed. A must try at least once for a really fun experience.

We ended up in Key West for Fantasy Fest by accident. We always go on vacation for my birthday,…read morewhich happened to be this week. I couldn't stop staring at people. Each night is a different theme nights. People dress up in risque costumes and body paint. They have parades and all sorts of things. I recommend coming to experience this at least once, unless you're a prude and easily offended. Then make sure you specifically do not come during this time.

If you are searching for the best theatre…read more.. Like the ones with: stadium seating, the hottest new action movies, long lines for popcorn, overpriced tickets, electric chairs with lots of space, huge parking lot with only room in the back, lots of high schoolers hanging around WELL THIS IS NOT THAT PLACE This is more like a movie theatre you expect back in the 50's It'a a non-profit with lots of volunteers and the best staff ever. They treat everyone lovingly and talk about movies with passion. The snack counter is small but so is the whole place so there is rarely a line and even when that does happen it's really short. They do get some new releases but this is not what you should come for; ask what they recommend; special movies with lower budgets and more cinematic talent is their thing here.

We visited to see "Tuner" on our 16 year anniversary. This theater was clean, the staff were…read morepersonable, and made the day special. I love that it's right off Duval street. They had a couple of other options we would've enjoyed seeing another day. I also think that the popcorn and the drinks were tasty and everything was very cost effective. I highly recommend you check them out. We also enjoyed supporting a local theater that's supported by volunteers!