698-698 Travel Guide

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, located at the southern tip of Key West, Florida, is the southernmost historic military fort in the continental United States. Construction began in 1845, named after President Zachary Taylor, and the fort served as an important Confederate stronghold during the American Civil War. This three-tiered fortification, built from coral rock and granite, features a unique dry moat design and 8-foot-thick defensive walls, exemplifying American coastal defense architecture. The park's most delightful surprise is its beach, voted the best in America by Travel + Leisure magazine, with fine white sand and crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkeling and swimming. The remarkable combination of a historic fort and tropical beach allows visitors to explore Civil War history while enjoying Caribbean-style island charm, making it an unmissable multifaceted attraction in Key West.

The Monroe County Court House stands in Key West, Florida, the most dignified government building on this tropical island and the southernmost county seat in the continental United States. Built in 1890 in red brick and limestone blending Neoclassical and Italianate styles, its clock tower rises over the intersection of Whitehead and Fleming Streets and was once the tallest structure overlooking the harbor. In front stands the William Whitehead Memorial, honoring the figure who brought Key West into the United States. The interior still preserves a century-old courtroom and wooden louvered shutters, letting visitors feel the 19th-century island judicial atmosphere. The courthouse sits in the heart of Old Town Key West, within walking distance of the Hemingway Home, Truman Little White House, and Mallory Square sunset, an ideal starting point to understand the political and cultural fabric of the southernmost city.

Audubon House & Tropical Gardens is a 19th-century captain's house in Key West named for naturalist John James Audubon, who worked in the area. Inside hang 28 original Audubon 'Birds of America' engravings along with antique furniture; lush tropical plants fill the garden, and original outbuildings like the kitchen and washhouse survive.

Built in 1934, the Key West Aquarium is one of the oldest attractions in the Florida Keys, preserved during the Great Depression as a Federal Emergency Relief Administration project. It showcases the rich marine life of the waters around the Keys, including sharks, rays, sea turtles, tropical fish, and endemic reef species. Daily shark feedings and sea turtle encounters are the most popular programs, letting visitors watch keepers interact with these animals up close. The aquarium actively participates in sea turtle rescue and coral conservation, serving as a window into the Keys' marine ecology. The building retains its 1930s character, matching the laid-back vibe of Old Town Key West, making it ideal for families and ocean lovers.

The Key West Shipwreck Museum is a unique attraction located at the southernmost point of Florida, dedicated to showcasing the rich maritime history and treasure salvage stories of the Florida Keys. The museum centers on the Isaac Allerton, a merchant vessel that sank in 1856 near Key West and was discovered nearly 140 years later by legendary treasure hunter Mel Fisher and his team, yielding a fortune in gold and silver artifacts. Through multimedia presentations, authentic recovered artifacts, and immersive scene reconstructions, the museum vividly recreates the peril and romance of 19th-century Caribbean shipping. Visitors can climb a replica lighthouse for panoramic harbor views and listen to gripping shipwreck tales that bring this turbulent maritime era to life.

Dry Tortugas National Park lies about 110 km west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, centred on Fort Jefferson and seven small islands. As the most remote national park in the lower 48, it is reached only by ferry or seaplane; the fort's brick corridors face a turquoise lagoon where snorkeling reveals coral and tropical fish — a truly out-of-the-way destination.