The Oldest House Museum and Garden is supported and operated by the nonprofit Old Island Restoration Foundation founded in 1960 providing for the preservation, celebration and promotion of Key West’s unique architecture, culture and history.
HOME TOURS
Jan 24 & 25, 2025
Feb 14 & 15, 2025
March 14 & 15, 2025
CONCH BLOWING CONTEST
March 8, 2025
Blow like a Conch! Local “celebrity” judges, painting coconuts & more. Who will win?
The Old Island Restoration Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that was founded on May 23, 1960. 
Thanks to the vision of women like Joan Thompson Knight, our founding President, the organization was successful in saving Key West’s Historic District and ultimately influencing policies and laws codified in the Historic Architectural Review Committee. Old Island has been responsible for the maintenance of The Oldest House Museum since 1974. The house dates to 1829, and is the foundation’s current HeadQuarters. It belongs to the State of Florida. The house is a testament to resilience, having weathered fires, hurricanes, economic hardships. It serves as a living chronicle of Key West’s rich history and the enduring spirit of its people from the earliest days to the present.
Become a Member and be a part of Key West History
Help us with our mission of Historic preservation!
Francis Watlington (1804-1887) Mariner, Pilot, Sea Captain. Born in St. Croix, V.I., he moved to Key West in the early 1830s with his young wife Emeline.
Cookhouses were very common in the 1700 and 1800s. Kitchens were separate from the main house for many reasons, but the most important issue was fire.
