About Us
As the stewards of Four Museums, the Key West Art & Historical Society educates the local community and visiting public by preserving, interpreting and exhibiting the art, architecture and history of the Florida Keys
For over 65 years, Key West Art & Historical Society has been committed to preservation of the island’s historic structures and collection of artifacts and art that reflect the history of the Florida Keys.
KWAHS has been at the forefront of historical preservation in Key West beginning with Fort East Martello in the 1950s, moving on to the Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters in the 1980s, and culminating with the opening of the Custom House in 1999.
Concurrently, the Society has maintained and interpreted its extensive collection of objects for research and exhibition.
As one of the oldest non-profits in the Florida Keys, the Society also works with the local community to provide programs that support diverse groups of all ages. The Society is steadily involved in an array of programs such as ArtCamp!, the Road Scholar course established by Elderhostel, Community Day, and Hemingway Days. Looking toward the future, the Society remains dedicated to current programs while also striving to enhance community involvement.
Mission
The mission of the Key West Art & Historical Society is to preserve the culture of the Florida Keys through exhibiting and displaying regional art, architecture and history for the purpose of educating the community and visiting public.
Vision
The vision of the Key West Art & Historical Society is to inspire a sense of place and historical understanding of the Florida Keys through collecting, preserving, interpreting and exhibiting the region’s cultural heritage, as defined by the art, artifacts, objects and architecture displayed in KWAHS’s four historic museum properties: the Custom House Museum, the Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters Museum, Fort East Martello Museum and the Tennessee Williams Museum. The Society’s focus further includes, but is not limited to, works of local art, genealogy, socio-economic history and environmental history.
(305) 295-6616
