Fort East Martello Museum

Discover Fort East Martello Museum: Key West History & Haunts

Fort East Martello Museum invites visitors to step into a fascinating chapter of Key West history, where the island's Civil War heritage is vividly preserved. Built in 1862 to protect Key West from Confederate naval threats, this fort remained untouched by combat, despite local Confederate sympathies. Decades later, volunteers from the Key West Art & Historical Society meticulously restored this historic fortification, transforming it into the city's first museum in 1950.

Today, guests can wander through original Civil War-era battlements and immerse themselves in exhibits spotlighting Key West’s intriguing past, from relics of wartime tensions to the thriving wrecking and cigar-making industries that shaped the region. Art enthusiasts will appreciate the whimsical metal sculptures crafted by Stanley Papio: Junkyard Rebel, while thrill-seekers might encounter the mysterious Ghosts of East Martello, including the legendary haunted figure, Robert the Doll.

Located at 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, Florida, the museum opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last admission at 4:30 p.m. Fort East Martello also offers a distinctive venue for memorable events, boasting a spacious courtyard for 200-400 guests and the expansive Parade Grounds accommodating up to 2,000 attendees, both offering stunning Atlantic Ocean views.