Costumed actors performing re-enactments and treasures from sunken ships give an insight into Key West’s history of salvaging and the lives of “wreckers”.
In the Key West Shipwreck Museum you can join an engaging tour led by costumed actors as you learn about the unusual economy of wrecking. Prior to the 20th century, the major industry of Key West and much of the Florida Keys was based on salvaging and selling cargo from wrecked ships. Wander through exhibits of artefacts dug up from the bottom of the sea and climb to the top of the museum’s watchtower to admire the panoramic views.
One of the costumed characters you will meet is Asa Tift, renowned for being one of the most prosperous of Key West’s wreckers. The museum exhibits are housed in a re-creation of Tift’s warehouse, including the 20-metre (65-foot) high watchtower. From the top you can imagine wreckers scanning the horizon for any potential shipwrecks. Follow the actor playing Tift through the museum to hear stories about Key West in the 1800s. During this time it is estimated that a ship a week was wrecked by the hazardous reefs and tropical storms off the Florida Keys.
The museum’s largest collection of historic objects comes from the ship Isaac Allerton, wrecked in 1856 in a hurricane. Although the ship was too deep to be fully salvaged, wreckers still managed to pull $50,000 of cargo from it. In 1985 divers rediscovered the wreck and recovered the artefacts on show today in the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Admire the bottles, tools and candles from the Isaac Allerton. Other displays show relics salvaged from Spanish galleons and a hefty silver bar.
Watch two informative films and browse historic photographs to get historical insight into Key West. Learn about the dangers of making a living as a wrecker and what life was like for residents of the then-small town, pre-tourism.
The Key West Shipwreck Museum is near Mallory Square, an easy walk or bike ride from the old town district of Key West. Pay-and-display parking is available nearby. The museum is open daily. There’s a fee for admission, which includes the cost of guided tours.
