Audubon House
- History
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Date Built: 1846
The Audubon House & Tropical Gardens offer a relaxing, educational environment for families and visitors of all ages. Slated for demolition in 1958, the house was saved by the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit educational institution. This was the first restoration project in Key West, and is still considered the gem of the island's restoration movement.
A visit to the Audubon House & Tropical Gardens is an exploration into local history and folklore, while the gardens offer a lush one-acre view of tropical foliage. You will enjoy viewing the works of John James Audubon, world renown ornithologist. There are 28 first edition Audubon works in the house.
Audubon visited the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas in 1832. Audubon left Key West having sighted and drawn 18 new birds for his "Birds of America" folio. It is believed that many of those drawings were conceived in the Audubon House garden. Audubon's painting of the white-crowned pigeon features the Geiger tree found in the front yard of the house.
The 19th-century home was built by Captain John H. Geiger, a harbor
pilot and master wrecker, who lived in the house with his wife and nine children. It was an era when shipwrecks occurred daily on the off-shore reef. It was a time of pirates and yellow fever, slave ships and Indian wars.Antique enthusiasts will appreciate the unique quality of the furnishings purchased for the Audubon House at estate sales and auctions in Europe. Typical of the sort of furnishings to be found in a prosperous Key West home during the 1800's the furnishings reflect the elegance and comfortable living enjoyed in Key West during its prime.
An introduction to the property, its history and the close relationship to Aududon is given by your guide, who then lets you roam throughout the house at your leisure. You will continue your tour by wandering through the gardens along the brick paths shared with skittering geckos. Varieties of orchids emerge from the foliage and trees to surprise you with their vibrant blooms. Bromeliads and other tropical plants and trees abound.
The herb garden and 1840-style nursery provide an historic look at gardening, while native plants and exotics provide an environment that is reminiscent of old Key West. This is the finest tropical garden in the Florida Keys. Please linger as long as you like.
- Tour Information
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The Audubon House & Tropical Gardens offers a relaxing and educational environment for families and groups of all ages. This 19th century home was built by Capt. John H. Geiger, a harbor pilot and master wrecker. It was an era when shipwrecks frequently occurred on the off-shore reef. It was a time of yellow fever, slave ships and Indian wars. Slated for demolition in 1958, the house was saved by the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit educational foundation. This was the first restoration project in Key West and is still considered the gem of the island's restoration movement. Antique enthusiasts who tour the house appreciate the unique quality of the furnishings, which were typically found in a prosperous Key West home in the 1800's. The museum is open daily from 9:30am-4:30pm.
The Audubon House staff encourages group tours throughout the year and are able to accommodate groups up to 60. With groups of 30 or more we have found that we need to split them in two. One group will be taken on a tour of the house, where history is brought to life by our guide who will walk them through the history of this home while the other group tours the wonderful gardens on their own. Each group is given the opportunity to tour both the house and the gardens which takes approximately one hour.
If guests are only interested in our gardens, which consists of one acre of lush foliage, most of which is labeled with common name, scientific name, and places of origin, garden tours are available. Many of our plants were used medicinally in the past and some are still in use today. Other practical uses are dyes, furniture making and host plants to insects.
Admission Rates:
Adults - $12
Children 6-12 - $5
Children Under 6 - FREE
Students of Any Age - $7.50
- Address Information
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Audubon House
205 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
Phone: (305) 294-2116
Website: http://www.audubonhouse.com/