East Martello Museum and Art Gallery - Artifacts and displays of Florida Keys history, Robert The Haunted Doll, junkyard sculptures by Stanley Papio, and more fill this Civil War fort. Daily 9:30am-5pm. The East Martello Museum was once a fort maintained by the US Army. Built in the Civil War era, the ocean-facing tower and its sister, West Martello Tower, were to be used to protect Key West from invading ships. They belonged to Fort Zachary Taylor, which is now a Florida State Park with a lovely beach. This tower, however, was never finished and by them time it was half built, it had become obsolete. It never got to house any canons, alas. It was left abandoned until mid-20th century when it was developed into its present day state. East Martello Tower is today a museum and gallery showcasing local talent.
Visitors to East Martello Museum will learn about important industries in the history of Key West such as shrimping, turtles, and sponging. You can view Indian artifacts dug up from the Key West Golf Course on Stock Island. There's a boat used by Cuban refugees in the 1960s which is interesting as well.
East Martello Tower is also an art gallery, with a permanent exhibit by Mario Sanchez. Mario Sanchez is a Key West native born just after the turn of the century. His three-dimensional art uses found objects and depicts things like roosters, pregnant women, parades, and clouds. He is a local favorite in Key West and most of his work is about Key West life and scenery.
To get to East Martello Tower from the east, take a left as you enter the island of Key West, heading towards the beaches. Drive west on South Roosevelt Boulevard and you will see the museum on your right, just before the Key West Airport. Look for a large wooden duck out front.
|
