Key West HISTORIC MARKER TOUR

Captain George Carey House

The two story, double portico building is the second oldest house in KeyWest. Originally built as a two room house in 1834 by British Captain Carey, who made his money in the whole-sale liquor business. Enlarged in 1844 as a gift to his bride. Robert Frost spent 16 fruitful winters in the writers' cottage located in the gardens behind the house.

The Key West Woman's Club

Built by Captain Hellings who was the manager of the International Ocean Telegraph Co. His wife was the daughter of William Curry, Florida’s first millionaire. The Key West Woman’s Club purchased the home in 1940 and operated one half of the house as the only public library in Monroe County.The carriage house behind the building is home to the Red Barn Theatre.

Casa Antigua

The Trev-Mor Hotel, one of Key West’s first hotels. Built with bricks from Fort Taylor dating back to 1845.  It featured a car dealership on the first floor and hotel rooms on the upper two floors.Ernest Hemingway and his wife stayed here in 1928 and penned "A Farewell to Arms" from his second story room.The hotel was converted to a private residence and renamed Casa Antigua in 1978.

James Haskins House

The fire of 1886 missed this single family house by 20 feet.A portion of the first floor was rebuilt at street level in 1889 for a “Gents Goods” store. The storefront saw a succession of commercial uses through the years and the house became a boarding house in the early 1900’s.Restored in 1987 and enlarged in 1993 with the addition of two neighboring historic buildings.

La Concha Hotel

This is the tallest building in Key West. Ernest Hemingway paid homage to the hotel in To Have or Have Not and Tennessee Williams finished A Streetcar Named Desire during his stay in 1946.The hotel’s fortunes have risen and fallen in tandem with the island but the bar on the top floor has never gone out of style.

The Oldest Drug Store

This building holds the dual distinction of being one of the oldest commercial structures in Key West and the oldest remaining drug store building. Dr. John Maloney opened the Key West Drug Company in 1903. In 1908 he purchased the adjacent building at 532 Fleming and opened the first public hospital.  In 1911 he acquired 504 Simonton connecting the buildings with a raised walkway .

The Southernmost House

Built in 1897 by Judge Vinning Harris and his wife Florida Curry. The Queen Anne Victorian style mansion was designed as a one bedroom home. Thomas Edison oversaw the homes electrical design and installation.  During Prohibition the mansion served as a “speakeasy” club and in the 1940’s a night club called â€œCafé Cayo Hueso”.  Five United States Presidents have been hosted at the mansion. 

The Oldest House

Originally a four room house built on Whitehead Street in the late 1820’s by Richard Cussans a ship’s carpenter. The structure was moved to its current location in 1829 and expanded for Captain Francis Watlington to accommodate his wife and nine daughters. The Captain’s descendants lived in the house until the 1970’s. This is considered the oldest house in South Florida.

William Wall Warehouse

William Wall came to Key West in 1824 as a shipwreck victim. Seven years later he had amassed a substantial fortune as a pioneer in the island’s burgeoning cigar industry. Behind the building were docks and “coaling stations” used to supply steam-powered ships. The warehouse was converted into Naval Station #2 and became a vital supply link for the United States Navy during the Spanish American War in 1898.

Dr. Joseph Yates Porter House

Built as a two story house and later expanded with a rare third story  mansard roof with gabled dormers. Dr. Porter was born here in 1847 and died in the room of his birth 80 years later. Dr. Porter was Florida’s first  Public Health Officer.  His medical research and involvement in yellow fever epidemics is credited with the eradication of yellow fever in Florida.