Five photos, two houses. The Little White House is still available to current and former Presidents who wish to vacation there, but is otherwise open as a museum.


The Mallorys were clearly influential if you read the second sign, which is why they have a square named after them.


Since I'm in Mallory Square now, let's go inside Tifts Ice House, which housed ice from New England for sale because technology didn't enable ice production in Key West's tropical climate until 1890. The Conch Republic plaque, made of bleached coral, is just outside. The floor inside appears to be unrestored.


No, these folks aren't posing, they just happened to be turned vaguely in my direction. No, the girl in front isn't picking her nose, it has nothing to do with why I cropped her out up to her sunglasses. Why would you even think something like that? It's ridiculous, okay, in fact yes, she was picking her nose, and that affected how I cropped this. If you're her parents, sorry that I don't have more evidence to show her future boyfriends, but at least you have this caption. The lighthouse above the market banner is the Key West Lighthouse, which I've linked at bottom for you to explore when you're done with this page. No skipping ahead.


The distinctive 1934 aquarium is tucked in a corner off Mallory Square.


The old Custom House, dating to 1891, is now the Museum of Art and History.


Another 1891 building at the corner of Front and Duval Streets, the former Florida First National Bank, then looking southeast down Duval from Wall St. (the waterfront) with the bank visible in the back left. This is all within a block of Mallory Square, the heart of downtown.


And the Old City Hall dates to 1892! Well, there's obviously an explanation, and it's hidden in the text in the first photo. There was a major fire in 1886 that destroyed Key West's downtown. Let me say it was rebuilt very nicely.


Before I leave downtown, here's the marina and a monument to whoever Norbert Thompson was. (Can't read the plaque, can't find any other info. Quite a guy, eh?) You can sit on a compass at Greene and Elizabeth Streets or sit for hours waiting to get through the tangled maze of boats.

He lived at 429 Caroline St.


Ernest Hemingway's house.


One of Hemingway's famous cats' descendants with the characteristic six-toed paws. You can see more on my cats page.


The Grand Hotel, southernmost house in Key West and thus in the continental United States (since it does sit on the continental shelf despite being an island). It was built for the judge of the criminal court in 1896, so not related to the 1886 fire despite the coincidental date.

Key West Lighthouse
Back to Key West main page

Back to Florida Non-Roads
Back to Non-Roads main page