Key West Museum of Art & History, Key West

Housed inside Key West’s striking Custom House near the waterfront, the Key West Museum of Art & History is one of the best places in town to get a broader picture of the island beyond beaches and bars. Run by the Key West Art & Historical Society, the museum spreads across two floors and blends local history with art, photography, and rotating exhibitions. The building itself is part of the visit, with its grand design standing out in a city known for smaller wooden homes.

The museum’s exhibits cover key moments and everyday stories from the Florida Keys, from maritime life and shipping to major events that shaped the region. Visitors will find a mix of artifacts, documents, and visual displays that make it easy to move through the timeline without feeling like it’s all text-heavy. The Society’s collections include tens of thousands of objects, so the museum has plenty of material to rotate and refresh over time.

One of the best parts is how the museum ties local personalities into the story, with art and exhibits connected to people who spent time in Key West. Some displays focus on the island’s larger role in U.S. history as well, adding context to what seems like a small town at the edge of the map. It’s an easy place to spend an hour or more, especially if you enjoy museums that mix real artifacts with strong visuals rather than a single theme.