Key West Shipwreck Museum, Key West, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Key West Shipwreck Museum stands at 1 Whitehead Street beside Mallory Square, the waterfront plaza in Key West, Florida. It tells the story of the wreckers, the salvage crews who made the island rich by rescuing ships and cargo lost on the nearby reef. It is a good first stop for understanding why this island town grew up around the sea.

The story behind it

In the 1800s the reefs off the Florida Keys caught many ships, and Key West became a base for the crews who sailed out to save passengers and salvage cargo. Wrecking was a major source of income for the town, and that trade is the subject of the museum. Its exhibits follow the work of the wreckers and the rescue and salvage of ships such as the Isaac Allerton, which was lost on the reef in the 1850s.

The museum sits next to Mallory Square, which has been a gathering place for locals and visitors since the early 1800s. Today the plaza is surrounded by shops, restaurants and museums, and it is the setting for the nightly Sunset Celebration, with street performers such as musicians and fire jugglers. It is also close to the cruise port, so the area is busy and lively through the day.

What to look for

• Look at the salvaged objects and the displays on the wrecking trade, which show how a rescue turned into a business.
• Notice how close the museum is to the water, and think about the reef that lies just offshore and caught so many vessels.
• Take in the live feel of Mallory Square next door, where musicians, performers and stalls gather as the day winds down.
• Watch the harbour from the plaza and spot the boats heading out, a reminder of the island's long link to the sea.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about an hour for the museum itself, plus extra time to wander around Mallory Square.
• Check current opening hours and tour times before you go, as they can change.
• Plan to be in the area before sunset, when the square fills up for the nightly celebration.
• The museum is within easy walking distance of the harbour, shops and restaurants, so it combines well with a stroll around Old Town.

See it on a quest

The quest Buccaneer Booty's been Burgled from Key West: a Ken Clever Mystery is a good way to experience this part of town. You reach the Shipwreck Museum area on foot as one stop of a longer route through Key West, and the app tells you about each place as you arrive. At each stop you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, with a pirate and treasure mystery theme that suits a seaside town built on wrecks. Start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.