Key West · KEY WEST MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES
11 reviewed
Here are the 11 best key west museums & historic sites in Key West — what each one costs, how long it runs, and which kind of traveller it suits. The pick at the top has earned its spot; work down from there.
Step into Harry Truman’s Key West winter White House. Guided tours, period rooms, and standout stories for a laid-back historical stop.
“Greg was a great guide - informative and entertaining. The grounds are beautiful, and the period pieces in the house make you feel a part of history.”
Key West Aquarium tickets for $22.56. See sharks, turtles, touch a sea star, and catch daily feedings near Mallory Square.
“Just a-lot smaller then we thought and not as much there as fir hands on experience as other aquariums we been to.”
Visit Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Museum for recovered shipwreck treasures, the Henrietta Marie story, and tough slave-trade exhibits.
“Very Interesting. (Happy they had chairs for my parents to sit every now and again). Having the actual items from the sea, to see, was amazing. The story was wonderful. So well defined and elaborate. The slave trade information was unnerving but very educational. Cuban missle crisis review was wildly informative. We enjoyed the museum immensely.”
Prebook this $19.34 Key West shipwreck museum and climb a 65-foot tower for ocean-era artifacts, media shows, and hands-on salvage moments.
“An interesting museum about the maritime past of Key West through many shipwrecks. Interesting material culture, which you experience on a self-guided tour of the three story museum. Surprisingly, there is no gift shop or docents to answer questions. It is affordable, and is still worth an hour or so.”
Tour the USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum in Key West with a self-guided walk through a pre-WWII Coast Guard cutter. $23.
“When I travel to KW, am always looking for a new experience, this time I chose this ship. A well presented historical self tour of the ship, was a bit disturbed that the surgery was in the mess hall, efficient I guess! Very narrow and steep stairs throughout, keep that in mind if wearing flip flops, hand rails throughout…there is a small bar for refreshments and weather permitting, a sunset happy hour on Friday and Saturdays.”
A 1-hour guided visit to the Truman Little White House in Key West. See Eisenhower and Edison connections for $25.
“I knew nothing of Truman little white house before our Key West vacation. Definitely a must see! A trolley tour stop does not do justice to this important piece of Americana history. Vice President Truman was left totally in the dark concerning the atom bomb before FDR’s death. I left this tour with a much broader knowledge of not only learning about this great man but a better understanding of the ending of WW2.”
Explore Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West with a mobile ticket and English audio tour, seeing Atocha and slave-ship artifacts.
“This is a very interesting museum with a great history and interesting audio guide. Well planned and great exhibits. We learned a lot about Key West history. We walked right in!”
Two floors of real Key West shipwreck artifacts, a 64-pound silver bar lift, and a 65-foot tower view, all for $19.
A 4-stop Key West museum pass covering art, a famous lighthouse climb, a Civil War fort, and Tennessee Williams. Mobile ticket, set your own pace.
“Was a bit deceiving. Thought it was a guide tour thru the 4 museums not self guided. But it was ok once we figured that part out. Near to be clearer.”
A low-cost, self-guided museum stop in Key West that connects the Age of Sail and Florida East Coast railroads, with a look inside Maggie Atwell House.
“Great museum! Gives you the lowdown on Key West from the sea to the rails. Fascinating history. All self guided so you can take your time well worth the price of admission, which is very reasonable.”
Key West Museum Culture Pass for 4 sites. See the Tennessee Williams Museum, lighthouse, Robert the Doll, and more within 60 days.
“The museums were great. I liked the lighthouse best. The staff was amazing at each museum-- very knowledgeable and personable. Steve at East Martello was super helpful. He gave me physical tickets so I didn't have to keep searching for them on my phone. I will definitely visit the art and history museum next year with my family.”
