Museums & Historic Sites
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. Wander through homes of famous writers, climb old fort walls, or step into tiny museums bursting with artifacts. Each stop layers new depth onto the turquoise backdrop. These listings will guide you to the places where past and present meet—sometimes quirky, often surprising, always unforgettable.
Fred the Tree: The Florida Keys’ ‘Celebri-Tree’
Fred the Tree — the Florida Keys’ beloved, thriving and resolute “celebri-tree” that grows improbably on the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge — is a movie star.
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.
Key West African Cemetery
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a memorial honors the African Burial Ground at Higgs Beach.
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.
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
The Lower Keys
Little Duck Key Veterans' Memorial Beach
Explore Little Duck Key Veterans Memorial Beach - history and views.
Key West
Edward B. Knight Pier
Popular with residents and tourists alike, the Edward B. Knight Pier is dog-friendly!
Key West
Oldest House Museum & Gardens Key West
Old Island Restoration Foundation — preserving historic buildings & culture in Key West since 1960.
Key West
Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House
Explore Key West's rich history and art in a stunning historic Custom House museum.
Key West
Key West Ghost Tours: Southernmost Shadows and Ghosts
Discover Key West’s haunted history with a chilling walking ghost tour through cursed graveyards, eerie historic sites, and stories of restless spirits in the heart of Old Town.
Key Largo
Mike Forster Memorial Park
A small county kayak and skiff ramp on the bayside at mile marker 95.2, with six trailer spaces, a picnic table and nothing else. Parking is tight, nonresidents pay by app, and the neighborhood streets carry $200 fines.
Key West
Florida Keys Council of the Arts
Monroe County's official arts agency is the reason there are 19 monumental sculptures standing along the Overseas Highway from Key West to Key Largo. Its free gallery guide, cultural calendar and public art maps are the fastest way to find what is happening while you are here.
Key West
Audubon House & Tropical Gardens
In 1832 John James Audubon sat in this garden painting a white-crowned pigeon, perched it in a flowering tree, and named that tree after the man whose yard he was standing in. A Geiger tree still grows out front, and 28 first-edition Audubon works hang inside.
Weddings Max
250
Key West
Tennessee Williams Museum
Tennessee Williams Museum — dedicated to the life and works of the famed playwright in Key West’s Little White House complex.
Key West
Shrimp Boat Sound Studio
Shrimpboat Sound Studio — historic recording studio in Key West, where legends like Jimmy Buffett made music in a humble, iconic space.
Key West
San Carlos Institute
San Carlos Institute — Cuban heritage museum & cultural center in Key West, where history, art, and independence converge.
Islamorada
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park — a unique blend of geology, history and nature trails in Islamorada.
Marathon
Pigeon Key and Marine Science Center
Historic island tours, snorkeling & Bridge-tram ride at Pigeon Key
