The Oldest House in Key West and all of South Florida is at the heart of the original Duval Street. Imagine a slice of life just after Key West was established as a city on this island frontier. The Watlington family lived here for 140 years, infused in the rich fabric of our culture, and their story is intertwined with the story of Key West itself.

Please stop by and tour the Oldest House in Key West, built and rolled into place in 1829. Furnished in American Empire style by Emeline Watlington, its simple but historically relevant nod to Greek and Roman aesthetics was popular to convey a sense of prosperity and stability in our emerging nation. As Key West’s oldest wood frame vernacular, this Bahamian-style home still also features its original cookhouse, the oldest surviving in South Florida. The peaceful garden is 70% native species, bookended by a pair of beautifully scarred trees that, like the house, have survived fire, flood and hurricane.

OPEN 10:00AM to 4:00PM, 7 days a week, 322 Duval Street