Thinking about a visit to Key West? Here are some of the latest and greatest unique things to do in Key West , Part 1. And even if a visit to Key West isn’t in your immediate plans, you’ll enjoy reading the American history that happened here, especially with former President Harry S.Truman. Stay tuned for more in Part 2 along with eating recommendations and a great stop on the way back to Miami.

My  major discovery on a Key West staycation was that this southernmost point in the USA can be a very different experience than I thought. Sure there’s everything you know or have heard about — exceptional boating and fishing, fun and funky restaurants, bars and plenty of nightlife; beautiful water vistas; Hemingway House and Duval Street.  Key West has played a strategic role in American and world history that comes alive in unique attractions and its homes attesting to a time in the 1800’s when it was one of the richest areas in the country.  Here’s a look at some of these unique attractions as well as an update on the newest offerings to put on your list to visit:

History buffs can’t miss the ” Harry S. Truman Little White House”, located on a one time naval base, one of whose buildings was converted into a winter residence for President Harry S. Truman . The residence, now a historic site and Florida’s only presidential museum, has been maintained just as it was at that time, complete with his modest bedroom,  the bar where he would have his daily shot of bourbon and a poker table custom made for him. . It was reported that Harry enjoyed a shot of bourbon and orange juice, calling it a “heart starter” in the morning.

Subsequent notable visitors included everyone from Thomas Edison to former Presidents John F. Kennedy who was here during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.  Even if you’re not into presidential memorabilia, you’ll enjoy the gift shop with plaques and t-shirts of Truman’s iconic sayings, tableware, books and more. Guided tours are offered.

Ever ridden in a presidential limo?

In Key West, the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, has acquired one of Truman’s presidential limousines used during his 1945-53 presidency and a ride is included on the museum’s  White Glove Tour. The midcentury, mint-condition Lincoln Cosmopolitan is a  limo with 32,000 odometer miles. The tour, just over two hours, is offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., priced at $600 plus tax for up to six people, and includes a visit to the new Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation Suite adjacent to the museum. Suite galleries feature newly unveiled artwork, photos and artifacts. Visitors can don white gloves to hold presidential memorabilia, then ride in the limo around Old Town Key West. Visit trumanlittlewhitehouse.comor call 305-294-9911.

For more information, visit fla-keys.com.

More Unique Things to Do in Key West, FL

One of my favorite places is the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. More than 400 years after two majestic galleons from Spain’s 1622 fleet sank off Key West, a comprehensive new exhibit tells their story in the context of their time. Featuring never-before-displayed artifacts from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and Santa Margarita shipwrecks, as well as personal stories of passengers and others connected to the galleons, “1622: Wealthy World” recently debuted at Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Museum.

The Atocha and Margarita, carrying gold, silver and other riches from Spain’s New World colonies home to enrich the kingdom’s coffers, were among a fleet of 28 vessels shipwrecked in a 1622 hurricane. Both galleons’ wrecksites were discovered off Key West in the 1980s by salvager Mel Fisher and his crew after a long and grueling search.

The museum originally established by Fisher — today an internationally recognized center for preservation and research — is believed to contain the richest single collection of 17th-century maritime and shipwreck antiquities in the Western Hemisphere. But only now, following an expansion that doubled the facility’s exhibit space, has it become possible to display the items from the 1622 wrecks within a wider framework of New World and Old World cultures.

Exhibit elements explore everything from the colonial culture of Peru, where indigenous people mined precious metals and craftsmen forged gold and silver items carried on the Atocha and Margarita, to Spain’s development of a flourishing system of worldwide trade and the wealth of the galleons’ aristocratic passengers.

Also featured is a dynamic model of the Atocha in its final moments, meticulously crafted based on archaeological and historical evidence. Its portrayal of waves breaking over the ship and people attempting to save themselves underscores the poignant personal nature of the exhibit.

A second major exhibit “Spirits of the Passage”  examines the transatlantic slave trade in the context of its time. It documents the slave trade, its legacy and its Florida Keys heritage — including Key West’s role in the U.S. Navy’s early anti-slavery effort — through educational panels, compelling large-scale graphics, sound recordings, and artifacts such as shackles used to restrain Africans during the sea voyage that carried them into slavery.

“Physical evidence of the voyage between Africa and the Americas, known as the Middle Passage, is rare worldwide and this collection is unique in the Americas,” said Madeleine Burnside, Ph.D., the museum’s chief curator and an authority on the maritime slave trade.

Discovered in 1973 by a team contracted to shipwreck salvor Mel Fisher, the Henrietta Marie is believed to be the world’s biggest source of tangible objects from the early years of the slave trade. A goldmine of information about the tragic yet pivotal period of African American history, it yielded countless artifacts that were recovered and subsequently conserved by museum experts.

The Key West exhibition informs museum visitors about the maritime slave trade from the early 1600s to the Civil War. Exhibit modules re-create portions of the Henrietta Marie and depict aspects that range from captured Africans’ homeland to a Jamaican plantation experience.

Artifacts on display include the Henrietta Marie’s bell, trade goods such as glass beads and iron bars that were bartered for human lives in Africa, weapons and ship fittings, and the shackles that evoke images of struggle and misery.

Associated sound recording tell the stories of people including Olaudah Equiano of Nigeria, who was sold into slavery as a boy, eventually earned enough to buy his freedom and became an influential abolitionist; and Elizabeth Keckley, who was born into slavery, became such a talented seamstress that she was able to purchase her freedom, and eventually was dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln.

The exhibit spotlights the Cuban slave shipwreck Guerrero, discovered in waters off Key Largo.

The Museum is also a  research and education center and features a laboratory where artifacts are carefully conserved and preserved. Behind the scenes tours of the lab are available by appointment daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum,  200 Greene St.

To get the best picture of the wealth that has been a part of Key West’s past and the lifestyle, visit Audubon House. The 12 room home  has antiques, furnishings, and colored original Audubon engravings and lithographs reflecting the elegance enjoyed by the Captain John H.Geiger family in the 19th century.

. See the children’s room, dressing area for women, man’s bathing room, and living room. There’s also a separate outhouse and outdoor cookhouse with antiques of the period, cooking equipment and examples of the kinds of food eaten at the time.

The house was named for famed John James Audubon known for his study and painting of the Birds of America. A special treat is a room devoted to his work.

Created by designer Sasha Bikoff,  the interactive, educational and Instagrammable Audubon Experience features floor-to-ceiling artwork that pays homage to John James Audubon, who portrayed over 22 species of birds in their true life size form in the Florida Keys.  Guests can pose with the flowers hanging from the ceiling and life-like birds perched in vintage cages.Neon-pink astro turf flooring and hand-painted wallpaper feels three-dimensional.

There’s also a gallery that has antique and hand colored original Audubon engravings and lithographs as well as modern limited editions of his masterpieces for sale and a shop with appealing gift items. It’s worth to note a special Miami connection. The Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation saved the house from destruction and continues to help in its upkeep and operation.

Visit the Key West Historic Seaport 

In the mid-19th century, Key West’s natural harbor, known as the Bight, became the epicenter of a thriving sponge industry. The first shipment of sponges from Key West arrived in New York City in 1849, marking the beginning of an industry that would dominate the U.S. sponge trade for the next 50 years.

At its peak, the industry employed approximately 1,200 men operating 350 “hook boats,” specialized vessels designed for sponge harvesting. These fishermen utilized long poles with pronged rakes, known as sponge hooks, to collect sponges from beds located in about 20 feet of water. This method allowed them to harvest up to 2,000 tons of sponges annually, contributing around $750,000 per year to the local economy—a substantial sum for that era.

Historical Marker Database

The sponge docks, situated at the end of Margaret Street, were bustling hubs where sponges were unloaded, processed, and auctioned to buyers who distributed them along the East Coast. The industry’s success attracted Greek immigrants in the early 1900s, who brought advanced diving techniques that enabled harvesting from deeper waters, further boosting production.

However, the industry faced significant challenges, including overharvesting, disease outbreaks like the wool sponge blight in the 1930s, and competition from synthetic sponges, all of which led to its decline.

Keys History

While the docks no longer host sponge auctions, the legacy of Key West’s sponge industry is palpable at the historic seaport. The once-bustling sponge docks have transformed into a lively hub of shops, waterfront dining, and water tour operators, yet the spirit of adventure remains. Visitors can venture into the shallow backcountry, where the spongers once worked, to explore the same vibrant marine ecosystems they relied upon. Instead of gathering sponges, you can snorkel and kayak among them, encountering a world of marine life with eco-conscious tours like Honest Eco. It’s an immersive way to experience the natural wonders of Key West while honoring its unique maritime history.

Key West Garden Club at West Martello Tower

Tucked along the tranquil shores of Higgs Beach, the West Martello Tower tells a fascinating story of Key West’s past while showcasing its natural charm. Built during the Civil War era as part of a strategic defense system, this historic fort was designed to protect the island from naval attacks. Yet, despite its military beginnings, the fort never saw battle and eventually fell into disrepair. Fortunately, the Key West Garden Club stepped in, transforming the abandoned site into a breathtaking tropical oasis.

Today, the West Martello Tower is a hidden gem where visitors can wander through brick pathways framed by graceful archways, surrounded by lush gardens teeming with native and exotic plants. Maintained with love by a team of volunteers, the vibrant greenery—towering palms, delicate ferns, and colorful orchids—offers a peaceful escape. As the salty sea breeze mixes with the fragrance of blooming flowers, it’s easy to forget you’re standing in the remnants of a 19th-century fort.

But the allure doesn’t stop with the gardens. The site provides stunning panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, making it a favorite for quiet reflection or capturing that perfect photo. Beyond the natural beauty, West Martello hosts art exhibits, educational programs, and community events, blending culture and history in an unforgettable setting.

West Martello Tower is a unique slice of Key West that’s not to be missed. For more information, including visiting hours and upcoming events, please visit keywestgardenclub.com.

For more information on all the Florida Keys, visit fla-keys.com.