Custom House Museum


The Custom House Museum in Key West, Florida offers visitors a chance to learn about the area. The museum brings the past alive and also teaches people about the direction of the future in the Keys. The museum is located inside of the Custom House, one of the state's most historic buildings. The area is surrounded by land that has been walked by pirates, wreckers and politicians, all of whom helped build the history of the Keys. The Custom House was built in 1891 and has been used as a post office, a government center and a court house. Few realize Key West was once the riches city in the union, made so by the wrecking. By the mid-twentieth century, the city had gone bankrupt. The Custom House was renovated decades later by the Key West Art and Historical Society, returning the building to how it once looked and making it possible to share its history with the public. Exhibits vary but often include paintings by local and nationally known artists, exhibits about author Ernest Hemingway in his life in Key West, exhibits about pirates and how they influenced the history of the city and depression era exhibits that cover how the national event affected the island city.

Review, comment, or add new information about this topic:

Read about other Key West tourist attractions:

Discuss Key West, Florida (FL) on our hugely popular Florida forum.


City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site.  Use at your own risk.
Some parts © 2024 Advameg, Inc.