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.
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History
Creators
Keys Arts
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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.
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Islamorada
Our Place in Paradise
A nonprofit gallery and working studio on the highway in Tavernier, showing two dozen Keys artists across painting, photography, raku and stained glass, with a ceramic studio on site. Sales here support art education and community programs rather than a private owner.
Islamorada
Florida Keys History & Discovery Center
Explore Florida Keys' rich history, marine life, and local art at this interactive discovery center.
Islamorada
Jessica Ann Art Studio
Jessica Ann Art — original marine-life acrylic paintings in Florida Keys, where conservation meets Caribbean color.
Islamorada
The Art Guild of the Purple Isles
An artists' guild founded in 1966, now more than a hundred members strong, running six shows a year at venues across the Upper Keys. Most of it happens November through April, so time your visit if you want to catch something.
Islamorada
Studio Sesh Arts
Studio Sesh Arts — contemporary gallery and creative hub in Islamorada showcasing emerging Southern artists.
Islamorada
The Hale Gallery
An Islamorada fine art gallery featuring rotating exhibitions from local and visiting artists.
Islamorada
Elena Madden Studio Gallery
Elena Madden paints water and light from memory, never from a photograph, in Conté crayon and acrylic layered until the surface seems to move. Her studio gallery sits in Islamorada's Morada Way arts district, and her 22-foot tarpon hangs in the lobby at Cheeca Lodge.
Islamorada
Islamorada's Art on a Whim Gallery
Judith Chesher stocks her shop with work from around thirty Keys artists, and as she puts it, the Keys are full of artists doing all kinds of weird things. It sits in Rain Barrel Village, a few steps from a forty-foot lobster.
Islamorada
DeClues Custom Framing
DeClues Custom Framing is a custom picture-framing shop in the Upper Keys that builds new frames for artwork and photographs. It works alongside DePaula Gallery, with framing drop-off and pickup on weekday afternoons.
Islamorada
Old Road Gallery
Dwayne and Cindy King throw pottery and cast bronze in a workshop you can stand and watch, then set the results loose in a hardwood garden of winding paths, sculpture and free-range peacocks. It is at mile marker 88.8 and ranks among the top ten things to do in Islamorada.
Islamorada
Coral Shores High School Performing Arts Center
The Coral Shores Performing Arts Center in Tavernier hosts live theater, concerts, and community performances in the Upper Florida Keys.
