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Dry Tortugas Museum Section

Dry Tortugas Museum

Now open inside Building One at Mallory Square, this free Key West museum brings 160 years of Fort Jefferson history to life — before you ever set foot on the boat.

Free Admission • Open Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Steps From Mallory Square

Plan Your Dry Tortugas Trip Get Directions to Building One

A Free Preview of Dry Tortugas National Park Section

dry tortugas museum A Free Preview of Dry Tortugas National Park Tablet
A Free Preview of Dry Tortugas National Park

Seventy miles off the coast of Key West sits one of the most remote national parks in the country — and one of its most extraordinary forts. Long before you board a boat for the crossing, you can walk through Fort Jefferson’s story right here in the Conch Republic. The Dry Tortugas Museum is a free, hands-on interpretive center dedicated to the fort’s nearly two centuries of history, now located inside Building One at Mallory Square in the heart of Key West’s waterfront.

Inside, you’ll find an intricately built scale model of the fort, a photo mural tracing its story, and everything you need to start planning your own trip out to see the real thing.

‘Guardian of the Gulf’: An Up-Close Look at Fort Jefferson Section

interpretive center at the dry tortugas museum ‘Guardian of the Gulf’: An Up-Close Look at Fort Jefferson Tablet
‘Guardian of the Gulf’: An Up-Close Look at Fort Jefferson

Visit our impressive HO (1:87) scale model of historic Fort Jefferson and Garden Key. The model measures 11 feet across, showing the truly immense scale of the fort itself. It represents the state of the fort in the post-Civil War period, approximately 1870. A number of structures in the parade ground at that time no longer exist; they are included in the model as “ghost” structures to show the extent of the deterioration over time. Period-accurate scale figures portray a number of scenes from the daily life of soldiers, prisoners, and workers at the fort. A five-minute audiovisual presentation highlights and explains many of the interesting architectural aspects of fortifications of the period and the hardships involved in living and working in such a remote location.

Visiting Building One in Key West Section

Visiting Building One in Key West Tablet
Visiting Building One in Key West

The Dry Tortugas Museum recently moved to Building One, just steps from the Key West Custom House and Mallory Square in the heart of Key West’s waterfront district. It’s an easy add-on to a day spent exploring Old Town, Duval Street, or the cruise ship port.
Location: Building One, 291 Front Street, Key West, FL
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Time to spend: 20-30 minutes
Best for: History lovers, families, and anyone planning a Dry Tortugas trip
Getting there: A short flat walk from the Historic Seaport, the cruise port, and the Old Town Trolley/Conch Tour Train stops

Other Key West Museums Near Mallory Square Section

key west aquarium Other Key West Museums Near Mallory Square Tablet
Other Key West Museums Near Mallory Square

Building One puts you within easy walking distance of two more of Key West’s most-visited museums. These things to do in Key West are perfect for turning your stop into a full day of history and family fun.

Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
A few minutes’ walk away at 1 Whitehead Street, the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum brings the island’s 400-year shipwreck-salvage era to life with costumed actors, genuine artifacts, including a real silver bar recovered from a sunken Spanish galleon and a 65-foot observation tower with sweeping views over Old Town. (Separate paid admission.)

Key West Aquarium
Also on Mallory Square at 1 Whitehead Street, the Key West Aquarium has been a Key West institution since 1935, when it opened as the first open-air aquarium in the United States. Today it’s home to more than 250 marine species, a hands-on touch tank, and daily shark and sea turtle feedings that are a hit with kids. (Separate paid admission, from $19.94.)

Ready To See Fort Jefferson in Person? Section

dry tortugas national park Ready To See Fort Jefferson in Person? Tablet
Ready To See Fort Jefferson in Person?

The scale model is just the beginning. The real Fort Jefferson, which was built from more than 16 million bricks, sits 70 miles offshore in Dry Tortugas National Park, reachable only by boat or seaplane. Most visitors make the crossing aboard the Yankee Freedom, a high-speed catamaran departing daily from Key West’s Historic Seaport, just a short walk from Building One.

What’s included in the Dry Tortugas Day Trip:
Round-trip ferry transportation (about 70 miles each way)
A 45-minute fully narrated guided tour of Fort Jefferson
Breakfast snack and box lunch
Complimentary snorkeling gear and instruction
Free time to swim, snorkel, and relax on the fort’s protected beaches
Dry Tortugas National Park entrance fee

Schedule:
· Depart Key West at 8 a.m. (check-in at 7 a.m.)
· Arrive at Fort Jefferson by 10:30 a.m.
· Return to Key West by 5:30 p.m.

Want more time at the park? Ask about our overnight camping package for an even deeper Dry Tortugas experience.

Book Your Dry Tortugas Ferry Ticket

FAQs Section

dry tortugas fort jefferson FAQs Tablet
FAQs

Is the Dry Tortugas Museum free?
Yes! Admission to the Dry Tortugas Museum at Building One is always free, and it’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where is the Dry Tortugas Museum located now?
The museum recently moved to Building One near Mallory Square in Key West: 291 Front Street.

What will I see at the museum?
An 11-foot scale model of Fort Jefferson as it looked in the 1870s, a five-minute audiovisual presentation, and an interactive photo mural on the history of the Historic Seaport and the Dry Tortugas.

How does the museum relate to Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park?
The museum is a free in-town preview of Fort Jefferson. The actual fort sits 70 miles offshore inside Dry Tortugas National Park and can only be reached by boat or seaplane.

Can I visit Fort Jefferson without taking a boat?
No. Fort Jefferson is only reachable by ferry (like the Yankee Freedom) or seaplane. The museum’s scale model is the closest look you’ll get without making the trip.

What other museums are near Building One?
The Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum and the Key West Aquarium are both a short walk away at Mallory Square.

How long should I plan to spend at the museum?
Most visitors spend 20-30 minutes taking in the model, the presentation, and the photo mural.

Start Planning Your Dry Tortugas Adventure Section

fort jefferson Start Planning Your Dry Tortugas Adventure Tablet
Start Planning Your Dry Tortugas Adventure

Whether you’re stopping by Building One for a quick free look at Fort Jefferson’s history or ready to book the real crossing, we’ll help you make the most of your time in Key West.

Book Your Ferry Ticket

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