Visiting the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum – Great with Kids and Adults

While I always want to be on the water when we’re in Key West, I know that’s not practical because it can be hot and sometimes you just need a break, and that’s why we love places like the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Located in the historic area just off Mallory Square, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum is pretty cool and interesting, and if you’re in the Keys in the summertime, it’s a good place to continue enjoying Key West while also getting out of the heat. Whether you’re interested in the wrecking history or just want to change up your activities, the Key West Shipwreck Museum is a good option for an afternoon visit.

Do you have a favorite Key West museum, and is it the Shipwreck Museum? We’ve got the full scoop of what to expect and some great tips for visiting Key West with kids. If you’ve got any questions about this spot or planning your time in the Keys, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan fun trips to Key West!

Highlights of the Key West Shipwreck Museum

Is there anything more Florida, or specifically more Key West, than things that feel piratey? The Key West Shipwreck Museum ISN’T a pirate museum, but it certainly feels that way. The collection of artifacts and the stories feel right in line with what you hope for with historic Florida pirates. But also, that’s just it: Key West was full of land-based pirates. That’s my hot take.

What made Key West such a rich city in the 1800s and onward was actually its wrecking industry. You’ll learn all about it here at the Key West Shipwreck Museum, but as a little insight, ships carrying all kinds of loot would run aground on the shoals and sandbars of Key West and the wreckers would watch for it to happen. They would then get out to the wrecks as fast as they could because they had the means to save the loot and take ownership (or sell it back to the company who actually owned it), thus pirating from land. Kind of brilliant, and kind of evil.

Either way, the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum is really cool for learning all about the process, the famous wrecks and the historic characters that came from the wrecking industry. And there are some cool exhibits too! Be sure that you climb the wrecking tower while you’re here. It gives you a great view and is a great way to put into context everything you’ve learned in the museum in relation to the town.

Get museum tickets here!

Tips for Visiting the Shipwreck Treasure Museum

The Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum is great for all ages. It’s got the mysterious and cool elements that get kids interested, and it’s loaded with facts and historic accounts that allow people like me to geek out. I will say, even though this isn’t a pirate museum and the goal isn’t to be super creepy, it is very dark inside and feels very dramatic. Small kids may be uncomfortable or freak out (ours did the first time we went), but really it’s not bad. I’m a reader so it took me more than an hour to get through the exhibits the first time I visited. Between the exhibits, the film and talking with docents, you can easily spend more than an hour at the Key West Shipwreck Museum, and then add climbing the tower and it’ll take a little longer.

Often we talk about visiting the Florida Keys in the summer and how it can be so hot and humid. Well, ducking into the Shipwreck Museum is a great way to beat the heat and learn something. You’ve be able to be cool and fascinated all at one, so that’s winning.

NOTE: if you’re doing the Key West Ghosts and Gravestones Tour, you do get a limited visit to the Key West Shipwreck Museum. The stop isn’t long enough to actually explore the whole thing, so it’s worth coming back on your own to enjoy the full run of exhibits.

What Key West Museums are Worthwhile?

There really are lots of museums and homes to tour when you’re in Key West, and I would rank the Shipwreck Treasure Museum at the top of the best ones. This museum paired with the Key West Museum of Art & History are, I think, the two best museums to visit in town. I like that these two really tell the story of Key West and how the Florida Keys became what it is today.

If I were to plan a museum day, I would start here at the Shipwreck Museum, then cross the street (over a block) to the Art & History Museum, then walk a few blocks to the Hemingway House and end with climbing the Key West Lighthouse. That will take you on a tour of the money, the struggles, the art and the maritime culture of this amazing town.

Parking for the Key West Shipwreck Museum

Located across the bricks from the Key West Aquarium, the Shipwreck Museum is basically at Mallory Square (nightly sunset celebration). Parking in the Mallory Square area can be a little tricky. There are a few small parking lots, including next to the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum. Make sure you pay for parking, don’t just park and walk off. There is street parking on the side streets as well, but pay attention to signage to ensure you don’t get towed. I recommend walking to the Mallory Square area or taking an Uber/taxi. Everything around here is very close and you can walk between museums and restaurants very easily without the stress of dealing with a car.