The unique Shipwreck Museum opens the mysteries of the ocean depths to its visitors. If you have been captivated by tales of sea adventures and pirates since childhood, then the Shipwreck Museum in Key West will become one of the most interesting excursions of your journey through the southern United States.
Museum Features
The Shipwreck Museum is not just a collection of exhibits from the ocean depths; it tells a real story. The fact is that for a long time, the town of Key West earned substantial sums and significantly sustained itself thanks to... shipwrecks. The city's shores are surrounded by a wide barrier reef, which was the cause of numerous disasters in this area.
However, the residents reacted to the wrecks not with regret and sadness but with immense joy. Upon discovering another accident, they would form groups and set off in search of treasures, valuable items, and jewels that were being transported on the sunken ships.
A lookout always kept watch on the museum's observation tower, and upon sighting a sinking ship, he would shout: "Wreck Ashore," signaling a shipwreck on the shore. This announcement would start a race among the residents for the treasure. The person who first reached the sinking ship became the owner of those treasures, or rather, the majority of them, which were eventually retrieved from the bottom.
Right up until the 1920s, the residents of Key West enriched their city and their homes with finds from sunken ships.
When sailing ships became a thing of the past, the city became private again and only 100 years later, Key West became the center of attraction — now a tourist one.
Museum exhibits
So, the exhibits at the Shipwreck Museum are those items that the townspeople "rescued" from eternal rest at the bottom of the sea. The museum is easy to find, located near Mallory Square. For the convenience of visitors, the museum offers parking for all types of ground transportation.
The museum's exhibits tell visitors interesting facts about shipbuilding and the life of sailors. It also sheds light on the lives of Key West's treasure hunters, who photographed their most interesting finds. You'll see these photographs depicting the initial state of the finds, which the museum has preserved for many years. Exhibits worth up to $50,000 have found their haven here, including silver and gold ingots.
However, the main part of the exhibition consists of finds from the largest shipwreck off the city's coast, which occurred in 1856. The twenty-year voyage of the large ship "Isaac Allerton" ended in disaster on the night of August 28. The passengers survived, spending the night in boats and were later rescued. But all the items on the ship were lost at a depth of 10 meters. Brave citizens of Key West later retrieved all valuable cargo from the ship and sold it for an amount exceeding $50,000. More than 100 years later, the site of the "Isaac Allerton" sinking piqued the interest of divers and once again became popular.
The tour of the museum is conducted in an "action" style: looking at vintage photos, visitors already feel the atmosphere of that era. The scent of mystery, danger, and adventure lingers in the air. Suddenly, the guides, who just minutes ago were narrating historical facts, transform into heroes of that era and become part of the action, drawing the museum's guests along with them. Music, special lighting effects, and film chronicles aid in this immersive experience.
Excursions with American Butler
American Butler is ready to organize a tour for you to the Shipwreck Museum, allowing you to see unique items and explore the world of shipbuilding firsthand. American Butler will provide top-quality services for organizing your leisure activities, whether you're traveling solo or with a large group:
- Organizes tours to the most interesting places in America;
- Plans your tourist itinerary;
- Arranges transportation;
- Books services of a personal tour guide.
Additional information
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Address
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Phone
+1-305-292-8990
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Hours of operation
- Mon Sun: 09:30 am – 05:00 pm.
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Admission
- Adults: 12-64 – $15,00;
- Children: 4-12 – $9,00.
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Website
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