The Key West Shipwreck Museum, located at 1 Whitehead Street in Key West, Florida, offers a fascinating journey back to the era of shipwreck salvage in the Florida Keys. This unique museum combines actors, films, and actual artifacts to tell the story of 400 years of shipwreck salvage. It's housed in a re-creation of a 19th-century warehouse built by wrecker tycoon Asa Tift and features many artifacts from the 1985 rediscovery of the wrecked vessel Isaac Allerton, which sank in 1856 and was one of the richest shipwrecks in Key West's history.
Visitors to the museum can climb the 65-foot lookout tower for spectacular views of Key West. Among the many intriguing exhibits, there are relics from Spanish galleons, including a silver bar salvaged from the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, which visitors can attempt to lift. The museum also tells the story of the Isaac Allerton, a merchant ship that sank in 1856 off Saddlebunch Keys, and was rediscovered over 130 years later.
The Key West Shipwreck Museum captures the adventurous and perilous world of wreck salvage, which was a significant part of Key West's history and contributed to making it one of the richest cities in America. The museum's interactive exhibits, including hands-on activities and panoramic views from the observation tower, make it a captivating destination for both children and adults.