Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters Museum
Ships and shipping were the lifeblood of Key West for most of its history, so for more than a century after it was built in 1848 (replacing one built in 1825 but swept away by a hurricane), this 86-foot-tall white tower was one of the island’s more important buildings, guiding military, commercial, and pleasure vessels through shallow waters and treacherous reefs; sonar and radar rendered it obsolete by the 1960s. Climb the 88 steps to the narrow platform encircling it at the top and you’ll be treated to the best 360-degree view on the island (safety wires are strung over the railing, but the gaps are wide enough that you’ll want to take special care with babies and small children). The keeper’s quarters, with their wood-plank interior, are also pretty interesting, and include a great video summing up the whole thing.
Ships and shipping were the lifeblood of Key West for most of its history, so for more than a century after it was built in 1848 (replacing one built in 1825 but swept away by a hurricane), this 86-foot-tall white tower was one of the island’s more important buildings, guiding military, commercial, and pleasure vessels through shallow waters and treacherous reefs; sonar and radar rendered it obsolete by the 1960s. Climb the 88 steps to the narrow platform encircling it at the top and you’ll be treated to the best 360-degree view on the island (safety wires are strung over the railing, but the gaps are wide enough that you’ll want to take special care with babies and small children). The keeper’s quarters, with their wood-plank interior, are also pretty interesting, and include a great video summing up the whole thing.
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