Arts & Culture
In The Florida Keys, creativity flows as freely as the tides. From galleries filled with local paintings and sculptures to theaters, dance, live music, and street festivals, the islands wear their artistry in full color. Key West has long lured writers, dreamers, and free spirits, while each destination brings its own twist—think outdoor art walks, history museums, and quirky roadside treasures. Whether you’re browsing studios or catching a play, culture here feels refreshingly unbuttoned, sun-soaked, and impossible to forget.
Select Your Interest
History
Creators
Keys Arts
Icons
The Past in the Present
History here doesn’t hide—it strolls the streets, sails the waters, and lingers in lighthouses, forts, and railways. Museums and historic sites across the Florida Keys tell stories of shipwrecks, pioneers, and a railroad that once seemed impossible.
Wrecking in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys’ shipwreck salvage history began with the 19th-century wreckers who saved passengers and cargo from sinking ships.
Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad
On Jan. 22, 1912, when Ruby Whitlock was eight years old, she watched the arrival of the first train that ever traveled down the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad tracks from mainland Florida to Key West.
Key West African Cemetery
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a memorial honors the African Burial Ground at Higgs Beach.
Performing Arts
The Florida Keys inspires creativity across all genres: music and literary, stage and screen, studio and structure. Experience performances and installations here today, and learn about the creators of yesteryear who drew inspiration from our island paradise.
Live Music
Music is part of the rhythm of life in The Florida Keys & Key West. From waterfront tiki bars and open-air patios to intimate lounges and lively...
Ernest Hemingway
Learn about Ernest Hemingway, his literary reputation and his larger-than-life persona. Credited with establishing Key West as a literary haven, Hemingway left a legacy that remains vibrant today.
Jimmy Buffett
For millions around the world, the words Key West and Jimmy Buffett are nearly synonymous. He lived in the island city during some of his most productive years—developing the “tropical rock” style and laid-back persona that helped make him a world-renowned musical icon.
Tennessee Williams
Did you know that internationally renowned playwright Tennessee Williams lived in Key West for more than 30 years? During his time here, he completed "Summer and Smoke" and wrote "Night of the Iguana" among other works.
Famous Musicians Inspired by The Florida Keys
Bob Dylan loves Key West. In fact, the legendary singer-songwriter immortalizes it as “the enchanted land” and “land of light”. Others from the Keys include country superstars Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith.
Florida Keys Council of the Arts
The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is the driving force behind much of the cultural heartbeat of the islands, working to celebrate and share the region's creativity with both residents and visitors.
The Connections Project: A Mosaic of the Keys
Visual art and music by top Florida Keys talents are to take center stage during the Connections Project.
Florida Keys Council of the Arts
The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is the driving force behind much of the cultural heartbeat of the islands, working to celebrate and share the...
15 Ways to Experience Arts in Key West
Long a haven for writers, artists, and dreamers, Key West continues to inspire with its sun-soaked streets, storied past, and vibrant creative spirit.
‘Islands of the Arts’ Sculpture Trail
You can find visual artistry almost everywhere in the Florida Keys: in palm-fringed shorescapes beside the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, orange...
They Built the Keys
Dreamers and doers. Leaders and legends. The Keys wouldn't be the same without them, and you'll see their impact woven throughout our islands. In museums, at festivals, on the walls of bars, and in food and drink inspired by their vision.
Mel Fisher
Legendary shipwreck salvor Mel Fisher, who found the wreck of the 1622 Spanish galleon Atocha, was one of Key West's most colorful and inspirational characters.
President Harry S. Truman Little White House
“My grandfather once said that presidents shouldn’t have descendants,” revealed Clifton Truman Daniel, “because those descendants would spend the rest of their lives having people think they should live up to their ancestors.”
Henry Flagler: Railroad Visionary
Henry Morrison Flagler never lived in the Florida Keys, but he left a lasting and valuable mark on the island chain.
Filters
Key West
LIK Fine Art
Peter Lik photographs Key West water, and the gallery on Duval hangs those images alongside the panoramas that made his name. Open until nine every night, with Brazilian ebony underfoot and the lights turned down so the prints do the work.
Key West
Millionaire Gallery
Signed guitars, Hollywood wardrobe, and autographed sports and music pieces, built into shadowbox displays and certified by third-party authenticators. The Duval Street gallery opens in the afternoon and stays open into the evening.
Key West
Gallery on Greene
Gallery on Greene is a premier fine art gallery in Key West’s Historic Seaport, specializing in representational works by renowned Key West and Cuban artists, with offerings spanning paintings, sculptures, and reproductions.
Weddings Max
100
Meetings Max
50
Total Space
2000 sq ft
Largest Room
2000 sq ft
Key West
Effusion Gallery
Four thousand square feet over two floors, hung with hyperreal candy wrappers the size of a door and portraits set with Swarovski crystals. It is also open late, which makes it the one gallery on Duval you can walk into after dinner.
Islamorada
SuzArts Gallery
Susan Kay Holler paints the water, light and quiet of the Upper Keys from her base in Key Largo. Her original work is sold directly, so a piece can be shipped rather than carried home.
Islamorada
Morada Way Arts & Cultural District
On the third Thursday of every month, the stretch of Old Highway between mile markers 81 and 82 fills up for the Morada Way Art Walk, with galleries open late, live music in the courtyards and food from Islamorada’s kitchens. The studios are open on ordinary days too.
Islamorada
The Hale Gallery
An Islamorada fine art gallery featuring rotating exhibitions from local and visiting artists.
Key Largo
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
Explore ocean conservation with REEF's citizen science, education, and marine programs.
The Lower Keys
Washed Up Key West
Washed Up Key West — sustainable hardwood art & furniture studio in Key West, where fallen trees become island treasures.
Islamorada
Maria Wagner Artworks
Maria Wagner paints sea turtles, manatees and mangroves onto mailboxes and license plates, which makes for a better souvenir than most things you can carry home. She works out of Islamorada and shows alongside the Upper Keys arts community.
Key West
Shrimpboat Sound Studio
Shrimpboat Sound is the Key West recording studio Jimmy Buffett opened in 1986, set in an old ice house by the shrimp docks at the Historic Seaport. Buffett recorded much of his catalog here, and the studio hosted artists like George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Kenny Chesney before it closed after his death in 2023.
Key West
Magie Ruley-Island Inspirations
Maggie Ruley paints Key West in acrylic, sometimes from a picnic table at Fort Zachary Taylor with a water bucket and a stack of snacks. Her Fleming Street studio sells the paintings and teaches you to make your own on Tuesdays.
Islamorada
Studio Sesh Arts
Studio Sesh Arts — contemporary gallery and creative hub in Islamorada showcasing emerging Southern artists.
Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A.
Southernmost Point — iconic landmark & photo destination in Key West, where geography meets tropical charm.
