Take a step back in time when you visit Key West's many museums and historic sites.
Westwinds Inn is located close to all the best historic attractions, from the Ernest Hemingway House to the Southernmost Point. Explore them all during your stay at our own historic inn.
The former Armory is now home to The Studios of Key West, a new artist community offering creative space, professional workshops, special exhibitions and demonstrations, and more. It is located on White and Southard Streets, just four blocks away.
Initially, this house served as the command headquarters of Key West's Naval Station during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. In 1946, it became the winter residence of President Harry S. Truman and a site for the Cold War response by later presidents. It is located on 111 Front Street (Truman Annex), seven blocks away from our hotel.
The only fully accredited museum in the Florida Keys, The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum features permanent and rotating exhibits of 17th Century artifacts from shipwrecks, slave ships, and more. The museum is located on Whitehead and Greene Streets, and is also only seven blocks away.
The pinnacle of Key West Art & Historical Society's three museums, the Custom House towers over Mallory's historic seaport. It is as stunning a sight today as it was when it opened in 1891, with its Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The four-story Custom House served as the island's customs office, postal service, and district court, and it became the headquarters for the U.S. Navy's Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico operations in 1932. The building is located on Front and Whitehead Streets, eight blocks away from our hotel.
The Key West Lighthouse ensured the safe arrival of both military and commercial vessels navigating the waters off the Florida Keys. It was erected in 1843 with a woman as its Keeper, nearly unheard of in the 19th Century. Today, you can climb the 88 steps to the top for a stunning view of the Southernmost Point and learn about previous lighthouse Keepers through their belongings, photographs, and words. The lighthouse and museum is located on 938 Whitehead Street across from the Hemingway House, which is 10 blocks from our hotel.
This stunning home was built in 1851 by Asa Tift, a marine architect and salvage wrecker. It became Ernest Hemingway's home in 1931, and still contains all his furniture and belongings, and is also home to a few descendants of his favorite cats. Take a tour of this famous author's home and see where he gained inspiration for his many works. Only cash is accepted, and tour rates start at $6 for kids and $13 for adults.
This is as far south as it gets in the United States. Visit the Southernmost Point for a picture with the famous anchored buoy, which sits at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets. The Southernmost Point buoy is located just 1.3 miles from our hotel.
Built in 1862, Fort East Martello was used during the Civil War to provide extra protection against Confederate sea assaults. However, no battles took place on the island, and the fort and watch tower were abandoned as the war drew to a close. In 1950, the Key West Art & Historical Society cleared away years of debris and dust, restored it to its original 1860s design, and opened Fort East Martello as its first museum. The museum is 4.3 miles away from our hotel, and is located near the Key West International Airport.