Anchoring this stretch of Key West at 281 Front Street is the dignified Custom House and Old Post Office. Designed by architect William Kerr and completed in 1891, this is the very building where the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida met from its completion until 1932, when the property was transferred to the United States Navy. On September 20, 1973, this landmark was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Today it welcomes you as the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, one of four museums run by the Key West Art & Historical Society. Inside, the exhibits tell the stories of local history and maritime life, celebrate famous personalities including Ernest Hemingway, and show works by local artists. Listen for the echoes of courtroom footsteps and postal days as you pass the façade, then think of the layers: federal courtroom, naval ownership, and now a museum full of local memory.
Move closer and notice architectural details that date from its 1891 completion; imagine the building’s long civic life and the many visitors it has received. Picture the building rising over Front Street.