East Martello

The East Martello Museum is located right in front of the airport, and I always think of it as the stepchild of Key West Museums. Just about all the other museums are right downtown, and this one is all by it's lonesome. And I really think people would enjoy it if they just knew it was there!

There are nautical antiques right outside, their sheer size is impressive

It's all about Key West history. Lots of exhibits of the antique tools of the various trades that were the locals bread and butter so long ago. Way before tourism became #1 (Click on pictures to enlarge)

Here is one of the Chugs, or rafts Cuban refuges used for the perilous crossing to freedom from Cuba. My Spanish is very limited so I asked my dear friend and our City Commissioner Tony Yaniz  to translate the sign above for me: It says "Please - the last person to leave Cuba, turn off the lights". That actually cracked me up, I thought for sure it would be something more dramatic, or sad. 

There are signs with the stories for the displays, and the case on the right shows some of the meager possessions that rafters brought with them.

Here is the display on Count Van Cosel with the story of his everlasting love for Elena Hoyos. Very creepy. Van Cosel would not give Elena up for dead, even though she WAS! If you would like to learn more I highly recommend the great book Ben Harrison wrote called Undying Love. Truth really is stranger than fiction.

There's even an old hearse in mint condition. This always reminds me of the hearse Daddy drove for awhile, not as old  of course, but weird and very embarrassing when you are a kid to have your dad drive you around in one! 

The art outside is varied and plentiful, an assortment with something for everyone

When I rounded the corner and saw these stone Olite sculptures, I felt like I'd run into old friends and it put a big smile on my face.  They are the work of Bill Lorraine, and are carved out of the cornerstones of the old conch houses. His work is so beautiful, you can feel the warmth in the stone. To learn more about Bills work (he really is multifaceted) check out his website at Billlorraine.com. Bill and his wife Ann are very dear family friends and I posted about some of her work that she is best known for - at Fast Buck Freddie's a while back

And then there's the citadel. I've called it a tower up until now, and the caretaker at the museum was kind enough to correct me when I asked. When I was younger it was one of the places to have a wedding reception and I seemed to remember us calling it "East Martello Towers" but then again my memory isn't quite what it used to be =)

Once you enter the citadel, and venture up the stairs there is some really wild art made with old "junk" to be found. Really fun stuff. (Remember, you can click on the pictures to get the full effect) There's also a really great view if you climb out to the roof of the tower, but you will just have to check that out for yourself. Although I admit the first time I went out there after the "new" airport was built it was very disorienting, so I just turned around and looked to the sea! Guess being a Conch I was just trying to turn back time...

This woodcarving to the left is the work of Mario Sanchez. East Martello is also the permanent home of Key West's most famous artists.  He was the son of a cigar maker, and his studio was outside beneath a tree. He was one of the most prominent Folk Artists in the State of Florida. In 1985 he was awarded the Florida Folk Heritage Award. His woodcarvings and paintings are beautiful, and show a Key West long gone. 

The room where they exhibit his work is under renovation right now, but as soon as it's done it will be displayed once again and I consider seeing them a good enough reason to visit East Martello. We lost Mr. Sanchez in 2005, he was 96 years old. 

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OK. Now if all of this hasn't tempted you already, this should do the trick! This is THE famous Robert the Doll. Robert is known worldwide, and has been featured in various publications and on TV. The main thing to know about Robert is if you want to take his picture, you MUST ask permission. There are hundreds of letters that have been sent to Robert proving that important detail, in fact so many letters that they are now displayed in a slide show on a screen, an example of one to the left. 

David Sloane has just published a book on Robert called  - quite simply Robert the Doll, so for all of you out there that love the paranormal, this is your book. And yes, I asked Roberts permission before I took the picture above. No point in taking chances now, is there? 

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So I hope you enjoyed my mini tour of East Martello.  There is so much more to see and I can't say enough how I think the museum is worth going to. The admission is reasonable - and they just don't make many museums like that anymore. It's not slick. It's not packaged. It's not crowded. It's just Key West and I love it. 

XO

Smiles,

Toni