Audubon House & Tropical Gardens, Key West

The Audubon House & Tropical Gardens is one of Key West’s most visited historic homes, located in Old Town near the waterfront. The house was built between 1846 and 1849 by Captain John Huling Geiger, a wealthy “master wrecker” whose family lived here for over a century. It’s a great place to step into the 1800s and see what life looked like for one of Key West’s most established families at the time.

The site is named for John James Audubon, the American naturalist and artist famous for his bird illustrations, but he never lived in this house. Audubon visited Key West in 1832, before the home was built, and he is believed to have spent time on these grounds when the property was owned by Dr. Benjamin Strobel. He sketched local plants here, including the Geiger tree, and used them as backgrounds in several works—most famously linked to his illustration of the white-crowned pigeon.

Inside, the house functions as a museum with rooms arranged to reflect the lifestyle of a successful 19th-century Key West household. It also displays 28 first-edition works of Audubon, which are a major highlight for art and nature lovers. The visit is mostly self-guided, usually starting with a short introduction from staff before exploring the three floors and gardens at your own pace.

The tropical gardens are calm and shaded, with winding paths, palms, and flowering plants. Many visitors come for the house, but end up spending extra time in the gardens.