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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Key West
SeaSister Island Gallery
Rachel Garreau came to Key West from Casablanca with thirty-six dollars, worked at Sloppy Joe's, spent five years as an art director, then sold her house to open her own gallery on Duval. It is full of work by Key West artists, and she is usually in it.
Key West
The Purple Cottage
Jennifer Resor cuts and kiln-fires glass in Key West, and because every piece is shaped and fired by hand, no two come out the same. Sold directly rather than through a storefront.
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.
Key West
The Historic Armory
One of the few armories built in the South after the Civil War, and an unusual wood-frame one at that, this 1903 landmark on White Street has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971. Twelve artist studios fill the second floor and Fringe Theater performs on the first.
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.
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.
Key West
St. Paul's Episcopal Church Key West
Founded in 1832 and the oldest congregation in Florida south of St. Augustine, St. Paul's Episcopal Church is one of Key West's most treasured historic landmarks, offering weekly worship, an annual concert series, and five on-grounds wedding and event venues at 401 Duval Street — all while undergoing a breathtaking historic restoration for its 200th anniversary in 2032.
Key West
Red Barn Theatre
Red Barn Theatre — professional live theater in Key West, where big stories come alive in an intimate, historic space.
USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum
USCGC Ingham Memorial Museum — historic Coast Guard cutter & floating maritime museum in Key West, where legends of service meet immersive history.
Key West
Key West Impromptu Classical Concerts
Key West Impromptu — chamber music concert series in Key West, where world-class classical performance meets community spirit.
Islamorada
Michelle Nicole Lowe, Artist
Michelle Nicole Lowe painted the cover of the 2023 Keys Traveler, a watercolor marking two hundred years of the Florida Keys. She is a fifth-generation Conch whose great-grandfather sailed over from Green Turtle Cay, and she paints the fish, birds and old bridges she grew up around.
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
Comedy Key West
Experience top comedy shows and open mics in vibrant Key West! Laugh live now!
