Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House

What an amazing place!!! There is such a rich history in Key West! They switch artist exhibits every few months. I went when the Mario Sanchez works were displayed. I thought they were perfectly Key West! The story of the old man and the fish going up the stairs was beautifully done. The bathrooms were clean and even their architecture was beautiful. I will definitely be back.

This was not crowded. There is some lovely art here including folk art and the story of the Old Man and the Sea. I completely enjoyed my time out of the Sun looking around. The lady operating the front desk and gift store was uptight. I am not used to being followed around a small gift shop as an older lady. When we first came in she have us a may and then proceeded to real us everything we would see. When I didn't listen she stopped and got mad at me telling me she assumed I would want to hear what she had to say. Despite that i suggest this is a great place to visit if you like art.

This is a little jewel of a museum. Housed in the old custom house the museum has art installations on the first floor and historical artifacts on the second. Both are real treasures and worth the visit. We gave five google stars and four clams on the coveted Five Quahog Rating Scale.

It was a great joy visit this Museum. If you like to know more Florida History then stop by here . A huge variety of art pieces; I navigated through past centuries an I discovered a wide selection of things that I ignored; from wall art painting to a punch of nails that were used for boats construction. Trust me, I recommend this Museum of History.

Title: "A Journey through Time at the Key West Art and History Museum" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Key West Art and History Museum, located in the grand Richardsonian Romanesque building, is an enchanting haven for history and art enthusiasts alike. My visit to this magnificent place was before the pandemic, yet the memories of the enriching experience are still fresh. The museum in the former U.S. Custom House built in 1891 is a splendid example of preserving the past while enlightening the present. It holds an impressive collection of over 25,000 objects narrating Key West's vibrant history and culture, making the past resonate with the gift most engagingly. The narrative woven by these artifacts paints a vivid picture of Key West's journey from its humble beginnings as a trading post to its emergence as a sought-after tourist spot of the 20th century. A unique feature that piqued my interest was the rotating exhibits, each showcasing distinct pieces of art and artifacts from across the globe. My favorite was an exhibit detailing Key West's maritime history - a mesmerizing dive into the depths of time guaranteed to leave any history buff in awe. The museum isn't just a place; it's an experience. It's a walk through the tapestry of time, every corner revealing a new facet of Key West's rich heritage. The setting itself, the old Customs House, is an exquisite architectural art. One can feel the echoes of the past in its corridors, making the exploration even more immersive. Another commendable aspect of this museum is its inclusivity. It provides a rich experience for adults, children, and seniors at discounted prices to ensure history is accessible to all. In addition, the museum's wheelchair accessibility proves that they have indeed paid attention to every visitor's need. The Key West Art and History Museum is an intriguing blend of art, history, and culture. It isn't just a museum; it's a time machine into Key West's past and an experience not to be missed.

Run, do not walk, to go here! A great history of the island and famous players (think Heminway and others). I actually learned more about thenisland and Hemingway than I did at his house. Such a great place.

Nice architecture. Entry fee a little pricey at USD17

Small but nice little museum. I thought the place would be more historic to the whole island 🏝 including pre-European settlement and maybe some geologic insight. Although they do provide historic information, it's not entirely what I thought.

Located in Mallory Square, this museum depicts the paths of citizens of the southernmost town when it was the richest and largest city in Florida in the 19th century. Here we see local, national and even international exhibits of art and history. I enjoyed drawings of Ernest Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. There are 59 drawings on the walls from the 1st to the 3rd floor. Open daily from 10-4:30 pm. Elsewhere I wasn't super impressed. Admission charge 13.00 and less for kids. Self guided.

Very friendly and informative docents. It was very helpful getting a live person to tell us about the assorted floors. The building itself is historic which was gorgeous. The ground floor was rotating Florida artists, but the permanent exhibits upstairs obviously had more thought and curation. I thought it was well worth the time to check it out.

This museum was an excellent source of Key West history and art, as you might guess by the name. It's a great spot to visit when it's too hot to be comfortably outdoors. There are multiple floors' worth of exhibits on various topics, such as famous Key West authors, a whole section devoted to Ernest Hemingway, local flora, the USS Maine, and the overseas railroad and 1935 hurricane. The museum is small but mighty with lots of great reading material and artifacts. The lady working the front desk was kind, and her little dog was adorable. The price was reasonable to enter.

This museum was amazing!! All the artwork were gorgeous and the museum had a lot of interesting facts and historical information, I definitely recommend this museum!!

Originally home to the island's customs office, postal service, and district courts, this four-story architectural marvel was built to keep pace with the increasing population and wealth accumulating from Key West's lucrative trade routes and maritime industries. The beautiful and large building is an example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture which was typical for Federal building projects near the end of the 19th century. Some history about the building: Positioned adjacent to the U.S. Naval base, the Custom House was the site of many significant historical events, most notably the inquiry into the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor in 1898. In 1932, the building transferred to the U.S. Navy and became headquarters for their Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico operations. When the Navy no longer required use of the building, it was declared surplus and abandoned for nearly twenty years. The Custom House was eventually purchased by the State of Florida's Land Acquisition Advisory Council in 1991 and leased to the Key West Art & Historical Society for use as a museum. Today, "Old 91" has been faithfully restored and stands on the harbor as a national landmark, an award-winning museum and official headquarters of the Key West Art & Historical Society. We experienced the two floors of exhibitions that masterfully combine two centuries of history, art, people, and events all related to the Florida Keys and most notably, the town of Key West. Admission is $16 but if you get the ticket online, you can get it for about $14.40.

I almost always give parks and museums five stars by default but the conch cutomer service here sucks so bad I just can't. So the gate keeper ticket taker buggered with me about not finding my ticket. Even though I saw her watching me buy it on my phone, as I thought I was asked to do by the signage out front, she was passive aggressive and argumentative about it. See, proof of my digital ticket and receipt wasn't good enough. You've got to be on the "list", her list, and obviously if you bought it online it's going to take a little while to show up on everyone's end. So I don't know why she didn't just say that instead of goofing around with me. I'll also say she didn't like it when I called her out on it too, asking her why she was giving me such a hard time. ...later, I heard her complaining to some other customers about me too. Jeez. Jerry Springer anyone?! Otherwise, a small museum with a few small exhibits namely the railroad, remember the Maine, the Labor Day hurricane, enough art to flesh it out, and obligatory egress gift shop. Was interesting enough save the unnecessary drama.

We stumbled across this place and decided to check it out. It's a mix of local history and art. Takes about an hour to go through the place. The downstairs 2 galleries are rotating temporary exhibits. The upstairs hold the permanent collections. These include a large collection of paintings by Tennessee Williams, a showcase of WPA art and the local history that ties in to it and some local civil war history. They also have a couple of Hemingway artifacts. It's a little pricey in my opinion but worth the time if you have an hour to kill.

I'm a history dork, so bear that in mind while reading. In August, I took my family to Key West, and we explored. However, my oldest kid had just finished Kindergarten at the time, and a museum with them would have been like punishment for all of us. A couple weeks ago, my wife and I were on a cruise for our 10th anniversary (go us!), and we decided to go in. The rate was $12/person, which I thought was pretty reasonable. The building is 3 stories tall, but only the first two floors are accessible to the public. The building has a lot of information about Key West's founding and history. The little island only recently became a vacation destination. Mostly, it served as a port for the military, and it served as a small fishing town. I liked the Civil War exhibit because my ancestors fought battles to protect the port from Confederate occupation. Also, I never knew that Key West i some regards is where the Spanish-American War began. Overall, I thought this place was a pretty cool museum. The room with random Knick knacks from Key West felt like a space-filler. I think that room would be better served with a traveling exhibit or something else. Either way, if you like history then give this place a look.

We really enjoyed this museum and spent much more time here than expected! Fortunately, we were visiting Key West during Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day so were able to snag free admission. The museum does a great job of combining history and art, so you really get a sense of key Key West history while admiring all different types of artwork. It's like getting to visit two museums in one! We learned about the industries of Key West, the U.S.S. Maine, Flagler's railroad, and more. I definitely recommend stopping in on a rainy day and/or if you're curious to learn more about the people & events that helped shape Key West into what it is today.

We loved our visit to this museum. The first floor is local art- mostly depicting life in The Keys and the second floor are historic artifacts telling the history of Key West- with a large exhibit related to the Flagler railroad project- fascinating. Also hugely memorable was the Guy Harvey depiction of Ernest Hemingway's "Old Man at Sea"- the story told in word and drawing progression as you go up the stairs- very clever the way they did it and amazing 'collaboration' between the two artists!!

I was really impressed by the collections housed within the society. It is a not a large museum and you can probably see all the exhibits in a couple of hours - it is well worth your time here. I learned many things about the history of Key West, and its favorite son Hemingway as well as other local artists. The building itself is gorgeous inside and out with a large wood staircase, big windows with lots of light - they take great pride in the history of Key West and it is a rich one. It also has a nice gift shop to pick up many different Key West and other artistic items. The exhibits I saw were Roberta Marks, a local artist that uses a lot of found objects in her creations that moved me. There was a photography exhibit just opening that had many historical photos of Key West. Up the stairs is series of drawings based on the Old Man and The Sea by Hemmingway. The upstairs exhibits focuses on the history of Key West - the importance of Flagler and his vision of the railroad, devastation of hurricanes to the region, the overseas highway among much more. Everything here presents a history that goes deeper than the facade of only the party place many people believe the Key West to be. Yet again, another highlight of my visit here that I recommend.

Going to this museum was a last minute decision on a port day, and I'm very glad we took the time to go in. The displays were visually appealing, and there was a lot of interesting history about Key West. My favorite was a display of Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" on illustrated panels along the staircase. It was a much nicer way to climb the long, elegant stairs.

Kids under 7 are free which is wonderful and the $16 adult price is fair.. I don't understand why the 3rd and 4th floors were closed, I took a quick peak on the 3rd floor and things seemed pretty interesting there too. The Henry Flagler exhibit is wonderful and very informative.

Ok this is great under appreciated gem. Large three story building. Nice climate control and next to many shops. Learn about Flagler and how he built the railroad to Key West. Also about Hemingway with memorabilia that is far better than the Hemingway museum. Well thought out exhibits on the civil war and during the Great Depression also. It very close to a Duval loop free tourist bus stop so easy to get to.

For anyone who loves history, art, or Hemingway - this is a must visit! For $10 for standard pricing (not being a senior, student, or military) you get 3 extensive floors of exhibits that contribute to not just local DC history, but largely to stuff in Americana generally. I mainly examined the second floor since I am not hugely anointed into Hemingway. After this trip I should change that thought. He really was an interesting character both personally and professionally. The second floor mainly comprises of history of Key West through the ages from when people first started settling there, how it played a major role in the sinking of the USS Maine in the Havana Harbor of Cuba, World War II, the railway that was established to Key West, and much more. The museum is housed in the former customs house in Key West built in the Victorian style. It's a beautiful place and worth visiting while in town.

I would have given this museum 5 stars for how interesting that it is. Very informative and gives you a lot of information about the history of Key West. However, the woman who sold us our tickets should be fired. She was extremely unfriendly and while we were buying our tickets, she took a personal phone call. While she was on the phone, she handed us a brochure and pointed at where we should go. No thank you, no putting down the phone to explain the museum to paying customers. I'm sure there is another person in town that would be more than happy to have that job

This place is the most unique buildings in Key West that we've seen on our recent trip to FL. Outside there is a huge statue of a man and a woman in the front. There are also smaller statues of a photographer and a few other statues in the front and more on the second level outside. In the back, there is a huge circle of nude pink people in a circle, lol! There are smaller statues in the small garden there as well. Inside, the admission is only $5.00. They were having a special that day, so it might be more now. It's a self guided tour. The lower level has a gift shop and more statues inside. One of them is of Marilyn Monroe. Upstairs there is more artwork, but it's not as interesting as what was outside and downstairs. It's still worth checking out though. They mostly have black and white pictures upstairs. There is an elevator there which was nice as we were worn out from walking in the hot sun most of the day. To my surprise, they sold water for only $1.00 here which is great since every other place around the area sold it for two or three times as much. You have to ask for it though as it's in a small fridge. If you'd like to check out their website, go to: www.Kwah.org

Now, I haven't gone in yet...but based on the outside sculptures this place deserves a perfect rating! The giant man and woman dancing statue is pretty much a staple photo for anyone visiting Key West. I'd say that statue and the Southernmost point are the two most recognizable things in Key West. There's a ton of other really cool photo ops and interesting statues around the outside of the museum. Coming here when it's dark is pretty scary - some of the statues can look SUPER REALISTIC at night - don't get startled. The photographer - the janitor sweeping - the little girl eating a sandwich - the old tennis couple - dude eating ice cream - and my favorite: the dancing naked people - just to name a few. There's a ton of opportunities to get funny pics and worth the quick 15 minutes it takes to go around the outside and see everything. Look forward to coming back when the museum is open and experiencing the inside as well.

Cute museum it always has new exhibitions. I enjoyed my time here. Will be back again

I paid for reservations for 1 pm today and received the tickets via email. When we showed up the place was closed with no explanation or warning. Our multiple calls were not answered, neither have my two emails been responded to.

Excellent museum to visit. One of the highlights of my trip.

I was very disappointed with this museum. The most interesting part was the rooms that shared the history of Key West. The outside ace texture of the building is beautiful. The contents inside was far less interesting and the staff was rude at the front desk. I didn't find the art appealing at all. The medium was pen sketches and wood carvings.

the museum of art & history at the custom house was not a planned stop, but we had a little time to walk around old town and happened upon it. to be honest, you really can't miss it. the imposing 'american gothic' characters at the entrance tower over you. more of j. seward johnson's 'icons' were located inside on the ground floor. it was like i was walking through history come to life... marilyn's dress flying up, manet's olympia, a 3D sculpture of the mona lisa, the girl with the pearl earring... there were a few other exhibits on the second floor of the custom house. a history of key west filled one room... eh. i had experienced enough history of key west during the previous few days, so i was kinda over it. another room was filled with history of hemmingway (shocker). i probably was a bit over hemmingway as well, but there were some great old photos and other items i hadn't seen yet. but the real treat upstairs was mario sanchez's key west folk art. they have a large collection of his wood carved and painted scenes of old key west. they were utterly charming and amazingly detailed. he even used local products to paint them... eggs for yellow, dirt for dirt, etc. johnson & sanchez's exhibits were a do-not-miss.

Was a fun experience! Saw some of Hemmingway's belongings, got to sit amount sculptures which recreated famous paintings and have our pictures with them, and saw some great models of boats. A great place to stop by and only paid $5 to get in.

You can visit this museum in under 2 hours. My personal reason for visiting was to see the Flagler Overseas Railroad exhibit but also enjoyed the other displays. There is a rotating exhibit downstairs that, at the time we were there, was the photography of Arthur Rothstein when he was on assignment in Key West in 1938. Fort Zachary Taylor history also downstairs in a separate exhibit. Follow the stairs up and enjoy Guy Harvey's illustrations of Hemingway's book Old Man and the Sea. Upstairs is a full overview of the history of Key West with minor exhibits on key personalities. The bookstore had trinkets, typical souvenirs, and a decent-sized library of books. (Buy Hemingway books at Hemingway House if you plan to go there because Hemingway House has special stickers and stamps they post inside their books.)

Lots of cool historical information on key west in the bottom left room. There is an old television commercial that is a must see. There is also a great tribute to how the LGBT community really were at the forefront of creating modern key west. However, as a museum enthusiast I was highly dissappointed by the state of this museum. I understand that they are replacing the windows but the walls were dirty. The displays and models were dirty inside of the cases. Lots of things faded. Just doesn't seem to be the gem that it has the potential to be. Maybe it will be after the window replacement.

I came in to ask a simple question. The lady at the front was a sooooo rude. Seriously, rudest person I have ever met. I guess they don't teach manners in the keys.

You could almost call this a boutique museum lovingly and professionally developed by locals. The building is historic and it has been renovated to house a very interesting collection of items from local artists to the ever present Hemingway. Getting a refresher course on Flagler's amazing life was worth the visit. Low key, quiet and a bargain at $6 admission. Did not take long and we found it very relaxing and informative. OUTSIDE next to the museum they have some realistic figures good for a quick fun photo. The town also has a set of large nudes done by who knows and for what reason? The nudes have been erotically defaced regularly or at least each time we have visited by persons with even less sense than the original artist. They sadly give an impression of "what were they thinking?" So be ready to answer the kids when they see the nudes which are impossible to miss. But, considering what kids see on TV every day they may not even notice.