Audubon House & Tropical Gardens

The natural beauty of Key West is the ideal setting for the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens. The house offers a place for relaxation and education, appealing to visitors of all ages. The house was built by Captain John H. Geiger, a master wrecker and harbor pilot. He lived in the home with his wife and their nine children. The home was scheduled to be demolished in 1958, but was saved when the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation stepped in. It was the first restoration project in Key West and is still looked at by man as the gem of the entire movement. The home offers an opportunity to explore local history and the folklore of Key West. The gardens feature an acre's worth of tropical foliage. Inside the home are exhibits outlining the life and works of John James Audubon, a world-famous ornithologist. The home features 28 original first edition Audubon works, a collection of antique furnishings purchased at an estate sale in Europe and an herb garden and 1840's style nursery. Tours through the home begin with a guided introduction and then visitors are free to browse the home at their leisure. The tour ends in the brick-path lined gardens, surrounded by orchids, trees and a variety of other blooms.