Key West Lighthouse

& Keeper’s Quarters

938 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040

kwahs.org/key-west-lighthouse-keepers-quarters

Location: The Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters is located on Whitehead Street, next to the Lighthouse Hotel by Key West Historic Inns and facing the Hemingway House across the street. Whitehead Street is one block from Duval Street, the main tourist thoroughfare in Key West, boasting plenty of bars, restaurants, stores, and entertainment options. The Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters offers dedicated parking for the museum. Paid public parking is available on Duval and Whitehead streets; resident permit parking spaces and some unmarked unpaid parking spaces are available on nearby side streets.

Date Visited: 19 June 2025

History

After the original Key West Lighthouse was destroyed in an 1846 hurricane, the current Key West Lighthouse was finished in 1848. As Key West grew and expanded with taller buildings, “the tower was raised 20 feet, placing the light about 100 feet above sea level” in 1894. Several upgrades were made to the lens over the years, including a new Fresnel lens as well as electrification. The Key West Art and Historical Society (KWAHS) About Us website section states that they acquired the site in 1966; however, the Monroe County website and other KWAHS sections state that the US Coast Guard did not decommission the Lighthouse until 1969. I’m curious if the 1966 date is a typo or if the KWAHS was in talks to take over the property prior to the decommission orders? Monroe County notes that they lease the lighthouse property to KWAHS.

The Key West Art and Historical Society (KWAHS) was founded in 1949 as a 501(c)3 non-profit and opened in 1951 with at their Fort East Martello Museum and Gardens. KWAHS acquired the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters after its decommission, the Key West Museum of Art and History at the Custom House in 1991, and the Tennessee Williams House in 2017. KWAHS has over 40,000 objects in its collections. KWAHS also “manages the Historic Marker Tour (2017), which compromises over 120 individual sites across Key West.”

Partnerships

Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters is part of the Key West Art & Historical Society (KWAHS). The KWAHS has several institutions, including Fort the Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, and Tennessee Williams House. The KWAHS partners with Monroe County, the Tourist Development Council (TDC) of Monroe County, private donors and sponsors, as well as corporate fundraising partners. I work at the Key West Public Library as the Head of the Youth Services Department, and have invited the KWAHS curator and education specialist to participate in our Summer Reading program for two years running. KWAHS hosts events at the Tropic Cinema and Comedy Key West to accommodate larger groups of attendees and available beverages or light bites.

Accreditation Status

Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters is not listed on the AAM website; the parent organization KWAHS is listed as having participated in the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) since 2002. KWAHS is not accredited by AAM. KWAHS and the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters are both listed in the Florida Association of Museums (FAM) directory. KWAHS as well as its institutions (except the Tennessee Williams house) are listed individually in FAM’s directory. The Lighthouse is listed solely under the History tag.

Publications & Library Connections

Although I did not see any official KWAHS publications available for purchase at the Lighthouse giftshop, many books were available. These books included Key West history books, children’s books (often featuring on-topic themes, such as beaches, lighthouses, pirates, and marine biology), and books by local authors (both Hemingway and self-published titles) and featured artists (included Guy Harvey). KWAHS has a blog entitled Recent New & Press Releases, covering topics such as exhibit openings, featured traveling exhibitions, featured items on display, events and fundraising promotions, the annual Tennessee Williams poetry and short story contest, workshops, summer camps for kids, the Distinguished Speakers series, and calls to artists.

Lesson plans are also available on Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway, All Aboard: History, Culture, and Innovation on the Florida East Coast Railway Lesson Plans, for grades from kindergarten through twelfth.

Programs

No programs are offered specifically by the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse offers specialty access hours and rates, such as the Sunset Experience for small groups (2-4 people) for $325, large groups (5-8 people) for $425, or the Proposal Package at $600. Venue rental of the Lighthouse is available for wedding photographs during opening hours as well as wedding and event rentals after opening hours.

KWAHS hosts programs including the Distinguished Speakers Series (hosted at the Tropic Cinema), monthly Happy Hour with the Historian (at Comedy Key West), monthly non-profit bingo nights at the Green Parrot Bar, weekly SummerArt! Camps at the Fort East Martello Museum and Gardens, and more.

Experience

I visited the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters on Thursday June 19th.This was my second time visiting the Lighthouse; both visits were by myself. I parked my truck at the dedicated Lighthouse parking lot, although I do have a Key West resident parking permit. Often, parallel parking on the street is difficult with many tourists not paying attention while navigating on bicycles, golf carts, and rental cars. Parking at the Lighthouse is free while visiting the museum.

I booked my ticket online ahead of time. Admission is divided into several tiers, including general admission and discounted rates for youths (ages 7-18) and senior/local/college/retired military. Free admission is available to visitors under 6 years of age, active military, and KWAHS members. Visitors can enter the museum either through the Gift Shop from the parking lot entrance, or from the Whitehead Street entrance. The Whitehead Street entrance consists of a shaded walkway, passing the back of the banyan tree and lighthouse, ending at the Gift Shop and ticket office. Although the Lighthouse itself is not ADA compliant or accessible, aspects of the site are accommodating. Grass knolls or ramps are available; these could accommodate mobility scooters, but are most likely for event needs such as food trucks or event set up. Unfortunately, the outside elevator for the Keeper’s Quarters is out of order.

There are 88 steps up a spiral staircase to reach the top of the Lighthouse. There are two small platforms during the ascent, allowing for visitors to pass each other on the ascent or descent. One platform is located at the 1894 addition. The balcony circling the lighthouse provides stunning views of Key West and the surrounding waters. Information plaques are mounted on the banister, pointing out important landmarks, distance lengths, and historical dates. Visitors can see the nearby Hemingway House from the top of the Lighthouse. It’s a bit difficult to navigate around other visitors at the top of the lighthouse, but that is to be expected. Trekking up to the top of the lighthouse is also weather dependent, with multiple signs warning visitors to be aware of inclement weather delays or closings.

The grounds feature an iconic banyan tree as well as many native plants. Large growth trees and foliage have identifying plaques. Bistro lights are strung between trees and are lit up at night. The green space between the Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters can be used for events, such as celebrations or weddings.

The Keeper’s Quarters is one of my favorite exhibits; it fits a lot of information in a small space and does a great job of creating dynamic visuals between maps, photographs, items, and interactive displays. The front room is set up to capture a moment of time when the Keeper’s Quarters was a functioning home; the display incorporates several personal items belonging to previous lighthouse keepers. This display is also visible from several doorways in the Quarters, which is a great use of the building’s layout and enables visitors to enjoys multiple perspectives of the items on display.

In “2016, a $1-million renovation was completed that repaired the slate roof, adding an ADA access to the Keeper’s Quarters, and new paint for the entire site.” The exhibit was refurbished in 2019 with funds from the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and was recognized by the Historic Florida Keys Foundation in 2020 for excellence in Preservation and Restoration. The Keeper’s Quarters no only highlights the lives of previous keepers, but also local lighthouse lenses, technology, and history. Fresnel lenses are housed in the Gift Shop building and a great treat to view up close. Everything is showcased with track lighting against the stained wood or a cool gray paint, allowing items on display to speak for themselves. Accompanying labels and wall texts are well-balanced between text, photographs, maps, illustrations, and maps.

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The Gift Shop and restrooms are located in small building adjacent to the parking lot. Donations are kindly solicited after passing the Fresnel lens. The Gift Shop offers books from local or independent and traditionally published authors; art prints local artists; post cards; souvenirs such as magnets, and more.