Key West Attractions

Key West's claim to fame as the southernmost point in the continental U.S. is made concrete in this red, black and yellow marker at the corner of South and Whitehead streets. Street vendors and performers congregate around the site to sell souvenirs and showcase their talents. Visitors often have their picture taken at the marker.

Visitors to A Key Encounter in Key West can watch wildlife footage in the Family Wildlife Theatre including rare Key Deer, a variety of Florida Keys fish, sharks, dolphins, rays and eels. On the Jungle Walk, live exotic birds, including toucans, macaws and cockatoos will be heard and seen. In addition to the exotic birds, animatronic creatures add life to the jungle such as a crocodile, a manatee and a bobcat.

This 1840's home was built by ship carpenters for Captain John Greiger, a noted harbor pilot and wrecker. Colonel Mitchell Wolfson restored it in the 1960's initiating the subsequent preservation movement in the rest of Key West. The house contains many 18th and 19th century period furnishings and a substantial collection of engravings by John James Audubon, who stayed here in 1832. The gardens in the back are notable for the variety of tropical plants including birds of paradise, hibiscus and different palms.

The Conch Tour Train makes stops at various locales in the town and surrounding area. The 14-mile, 90 minute guided tour includes the Old Town, Duval Street, Hemingway's House, and the waterfront, among others. Highlights of the railroad days, the depression and WWII are featured.

Curry Mansion was built in the mid-1800's for millionaire Key West Mayor William Curry, and expanded by his son Milton in 1899, this Victorian mansion is now a luxury inn. The 28 rooms contain a diverse collection of wicker and antique furnishings. The main entrance of Curry Mansion has handwrought spindles and Tiffany glass sliding doors.

The Donkey Milk House, a ten-room mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been restored and decorated with period furnishings including hand painted Italian ceilings from 1890, a black walnut staircase and antique furniture. The unusual name comes from the donkeys that used to cart milk from the alley located behind the house.

Built between 1845 and 1866, Fort Zachary Taylor protected this part of Florida's coast during the civil war. Today, it's a State Historic Park with picnic grounds, a swimming beach and fishing opportunities.

Fury Water Adventures is located at the Westin Marina. Visitors can take part in underwater explorations on a reef snorkeling boat, try thrills in the air on parasailing boats, see marine life on Fury's glass bottom boat, "The Pride of Key West", or celebrate Key West's sunset aboard one of the live music sunset sails.

The Harry S Truman Little White House was built in 1890 and served as an officers quarters. The museum was the vacation retreat for U.S. Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy. Original furnishings and decor have remained intact from the Truman era, who first came here in 1946. A 10-minute film and 20 minute tour details his life and presidency. Visitors can see Truman's piano and the desk he used during his "working vacations".

Key West Aquarium first opened its doors in 1934, making it one of the first open-air aquariums in the U.S. The aquarium is nearly twice the size of the original. Exhibits include the Atlantic Shores exhibit and the large outdoor holding pens. A number of tanks house local marine life including puffer fish, snappers, and angelfish. There are also tanks with barracuda and sharks and a "touch tank" which allows visitors to get up close and personal with conch, starfish and other invertebrates.

In 2002 a disastrous fire destroyed the retail store of the Key West Cigar Factory. The company moved to online sales until 2006 whne it announced it would be closing. Since then plans have emerged to reopen a location in Key West in 2008.

Housed in the former keeper's quarters of this 1848 Key West lighthouse, this museum traces the history of lighthouses in Florida through various artifacts and models.

The Liberty is a replica of an early 1800's schooners used to carry cargo and by New England fishermen. Cruise around Key West in the Liberty schooner, which gives all passengers an opportunity to steer and sail.

Opened to the public in 1994, the botanical garden was established by Nancy Forrester and friends behind their homes in Key West. The garden is a gallery of living art.

Old Town Trolley Tours leave downtown Key West and can be joined at any of the 13 stops along the way. The tours are narrated and provide information on the history, geography and legends of the area. Some points of interest are Key West Aquarium, Duval Street, and Ernest Hemingway's house.

Reworx is a contemporary arts gallery that features scrap metal sculpture by local, national and international artists. Artist Cynthia Wynn created the majority of pieces inside from pieces of scrap.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not in Key West presents exhibits, films and other multi-media presentations tell the stories of bizarre people and strange stunts from around the world.

Housed in a Spanish Colonial building dating from 1924, the San Carlos Institute is an educational and resource center, a Cuban history museum, an art gallery and theatre. The museum contains exhibits related to Cuba's drive for independence from Spain.

The Shipwreck Historeum is housed in the replica of a 19th century wrecker's warehouse with exhibits tracing the history of the salvage industry in the area. Actors in period costume recount the story of the "Isaac Allerton", which sank in 1856. Artifacts from the shipwreck are displayed and visitors can also watch films and videos on the subject. A 65-foot observation tower offers good views of the surrounding land and seascape.

The Oldest House in South Florida, built in 1829, was the former home of Francis B Watlington. Within the house are exhibits belonging to the Wreckers Museum that detail the history of ship "wrecking". This was the custom of salvaging the ships that often crashed into the shallow reefs near the Keys. There are numerous examples of 19th century furnishings and a garden at the rear of the house with a cookhouse and an exhibit pavilion containging additional documents of interest.

Mallory Square/Dock, a former warehouse area, is now the location of a nightly sunset-watching ritual with live entertainment. Tourists gather on the dock to marvel at the often-praised sunset as jugglers, vendors, musicians and other street performers create a carnival-like atmosphere.

Dating back to 1847, the headstones in Key West's cemetery mark the graves of more than 35,000 people. There is a monument to the sailors who died when the USS Maine sank in 1898 and another commemorating the Cuban martyrs who were killed during the 1870's independence movement.

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Perkins has items for travel at sea or to set up a nautical theme - brasswork, ships' clocks, models, charts, and books, plus jackets, shorts, hats, and foul-weather gear.