Keys History & Discovery Center Closes Temporarily

Take Virtual Walking Tour from Comfort of Home

ISLAMORADA, FL – Given the latest federal and state leaders’ recommendations, Keys History & Discovery Center will close effective March 18, according to Executive Director Jill Miranda Baker. “For the protection of our volunteers and our guests, many of whom are in the high-risk population, we feel this is the most prudent course of action. We will continue to follow guidelines to determine when we will reopen.”

The Art Guild of the Purple Isles Annual Judged Art Show, which has been on display at the Discovery Center, will deinstall as schedule. Art Guild volunteers are working to make artwork available to view on their website at www.agpi.us.

In lieu of an in-person visit to the Discovery Center, check out our virtual narrated walking tours, Historic Islamorada and Indian Key, available through a free app, Florida Stories, at FLStories.org, the Google Play Store or iStore.

Indian Key, a storied 11-acre island, was briefly named a county seat of the newly formed Dade County. The tour, which includes 12 virtual stops, delves into the rise and fall of the community, the 1840 attack by Indians during the Seminole War, and its most notorious resident, John Jacob Housman.

Historic Islamorada takes ten virtual stops beginning at the iconic Green Turtle Inn revealing stories of early pioneers, the most powerful hurricane to ever strike North America, the hurricane or Red Cross Houses built for survivors, the memorial built to honor the hundreds of victims, and one of the few bona fide pirate stories connected to the island chain. The virtual tour ends at the Pioneer Cemetery located on the picturesque beach of the Cheeca Lodge, at one time the heart of this historic community.

Check out our Facebook page, Florida Keys History & Discovery Center, for a daily history lesson about Keys living.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]