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
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
Red Door Gallery
Next door to Pepe's, which has been feeding Key West since 1909, and a few steps from the Historic Seaport. A small gallery of island and Caribbean work by Key West artists, priced to actually buy.
Islamorada
ElleSummersStudio
Elle Summers paints, and the paintings become yoga leggings, kimonos, maxi dresses, tote bags and throw pillows. Her studio sits on Morada Way, in the middle of Islamorada's arts district between mile markers 81 and 82.
Marathon
Marathon High School Performing Arts Center
The Marathon High School Performing Arts Center in Marathon, Florida is a vibrant local venue for student theater, musicals and community performances in the heart of the Florida Keys.
Key West
Mzoe Arts
Mzoe Arts is a Key West ceramics studio and artisan brand by South African-born potter Thabane Mpofu, crafting one-of-a-kind hand-built ceramic creations inspired by his late father's artistry and a mission to employ and mentor fellow artisans from his community.
Islamorada
Jessica Ann Art Studio
Jessica Ann Art — original marine-life acrylic paintings in Florida Keys, where conservation meets Caribbean color.
Key West
Randy Roberts LIVE!
Randy Roberts — performance magic & illusion shows in Key West, where spectacle meets island enchantment.
Yankee Freedom- Dry Tortugas National Park Museum
Dry Tortugas Museum — historic interpretive center & Fort Jefferson exhibits in Key West, where maritime legacy meets interactive learning.
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
Abstracta
A small Duval Street gallery stocked with work that does not look like anybody else's on the street, including sculpture built out of reclaimed metal. It stays open into the evening, which makes it one of the few galleries you can browse after dinner.
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
Key West Cultural Center and Veterans Museum and William Weech American Legion Post 168
The Key West Cultural Center & Veterans Museum is a community initiative dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history, culture, and military heritage of the Florida Keys through exhibits, educational programs, and cultural events.
Key West
Oldest House Museum & Gardens Key West
Old Island Restoration Foundation — preserving historic buildings & culture in Key West since 1960.
Key West
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Eco Discovery Center
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center — immersive marine sanctuary exhibit in Key West, where education meets ocean conservation.
Key West
Key West Art and Historical Society
Explore two centuries of Key West history and art in a stunning historic landmark!
Key West
Art@ 830 Gallery
Hand blown glass, turned wood, ceramics and paintings on Caroline Street in the Historic Seaport, run by two artists who have been working in Key West for decades. Ask about Tony Gregory's Key West alphabet.
