August 10, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society announced today the donation of a culturally significant woodcarving by distinguished Cuban American folk artist Mario Sanchez, gifted to the Society by Holly S. Merrill.  The work, inherited by Merrill from her mother, Scotti Merrill, depicts a traditional Key West funeral procession traveling along Center Street between Petronia and Olivia streets, passing in front of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on its way to the Key West Cemetery.
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The donation continues a longstanding tradition of stewardship by the Merrill family, whose contributions to historic preservation have helped safeguard and celebrate Key West’s unique cultural heritage.  Through her gift, Holly S. Merrill has ensured that this important work by Sanchez will become part of the Society’s permanent collection, where it can be preserved and shared with future generations.

The woodcarving portrays a traditional funeral procession for a local fisherman, Mr. Salinier, traveling along Center Street toward the Key West Cemetery.  With its horse-drawn hearse, mourners, and Welters Cornet Band, the scene offers a compelling glimpse into Key West life and ceremonial traditions during the 1940s.  As with much of Sanchez’s work, the carving captures not only a specific moment in the island’s history but also the customs and community traditions of Key West during an earlier era.

Sanchez, a Key West native, is among this country’s finest and most recognized folk artists.  The self-taught artist was born in Key West in 1908, the grandson of Cuban immigrants.  In the 1940s, at the urging of his mother-in-law, he began creating intricate carvings depicting life in Key West as he remembered from his childhood.  Of his work, Sanchez adopted as his motto: “Se que mi modesto arte no es bueno, pero gusta,” or “I know my modest art isn’t good, but it pleases.”  Sanchez’s works are held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.

“Scotti Merrill understood the importance of preserving the stories that make Key West unique, and Holly’s decision to donate this work continues that legacy in a meaningful way,” says Dr. Cori Convertito, curator and historian for the Society.  “Mario Sanchez had an extraordinary ability to capture the character and customs of Key West, preserving intimate glimpses of island life that might otherwise have been lost to time.  We are honored that Holly has chosen to share a work that was part of her family’s history with the entire community, ensuring that it can be preserved, studied, and appreciated for generations to come.”

The Sanchez woodcarving has been digitized and is available for viewing through the Society’s online collections at kwahs.org/collections.  For more information about the donation or the Society’s permanent collection, contact Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].
Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

July 30, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society is pleased to present another installment of its popular lecture series, Happy Hour with the Historian.  Historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D., will present “Remember the Maine: Explosion, Mystery, and the Road to War” on Thursday, August 13, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Comedy Key West.

The engaging presentation explores the history of the USS Maine and its significant ties to Key West during one of the most pivotal moments in American history.  In 1898, the powerful U.S. battleship was a familiar presence in Key West, patrolling regional waters amid rising tensions in the Caribbean.  When the Maine sailed to Havana Harbor in January as a show of American strength and protection, few could have imagined the tragedy that would soon unfold.

Just three weeks later, on the night of February 15, a catastrophic explosion ripped through the vessel, claiming the lives of more than 260 sailors and sending shockwaves across the nation.  The sinking of the Maine became one of the most controversial events in U.S. history, fueling public outrage and helping propel the nation into the Spanish-American War.  During the lecture, Dr. Convertito will examine the Maine's connections to Key West, investigate the competing theories surrounding the ship's destruction, and explore how a single mysterious event reshaped American foreign policy and marked the nation's emergence as a global power.

“Few events have had such an immediate and lasting impact on the course of American history as the explosion of the Maine,” said Dr. Convertito, curator and historian for the Society.  “Its story is one of mystery, politics, media influence, and international conflict.  By examining the evidence and placing the event in its historical context, we gain a deeper understanding of how one tragedy helped change the trajectory of the United States.”

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the lecture beginning promptly at 5:00 p.m.  Tickets are highly recommended in advance and can be purchased online at kwahs.org/whats-on.  Admission is $13 for Society members and $17 for non-members, and each ticket includes a complimentary beverage.  Early purchase is encouraged as seating is limited.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

July 9, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society is pleased to present a special installment of its popular lecture series, Happy Hour with the Historian, in conjunction with the annual Hemingway Days celebration.  Historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D., will present “Following the Fish: Hemingway in Key West” on Thursday, July 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Comedy Key West.

The engaging presentation explores Ernest Hemingway’s deep connection to the waters surrounding Key West and Cuba, where his passion for big-game fishing became as legendary as his literary career.  While writing some of the twentieth century's most celebrated novels, Hemingway spent countless hours aboard his beloved 38-foot fishing boat, Pilar, pursuing marlin, tuna, and other prized sport fish.  His experiences on the water inspired memorable scenes in works including “To Have and Have Not” and the Nobel Prize-winning “The Old Man and the Sea.”

Beyond recounting Hemingway's celebrated angling adventures, Dr. Convertito will examine the author’s lesser-known role as an advocate for marine conservation.  The lecture offers a fascinating look at how Hemingway balanced his enthusiasm for sport fishing with an evolving appreciation for protecting the marine environment, providing fresh insight into one of America's most iconic writers.

“Hemingway's relationship with the sea shaped both his life and his writing,” said Dr. Convertito, curator and historian for the Society.  “His time on the water wasn't simply recreation.  It informed his storytelling, influenced his worldview, and helped establish Key West as a world-renowned sport fishing destination.  This lecture explores the intersection of literature, history, and conservation while revealing a side of Hemingway that many people have never considered.”
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Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the lecture beginning promptly at 5:00 p.m.  Tickets are highly recommended in advance and can be purchased online at kwahs.org/whats-on.  Admission is $13 for Society members and $17 for non-members, and each ticket includes a complimentary beverage.  Early purchase is encouraged as seating is limited.

June 30, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Tennessee Williams Museum, one of Key West's most beloved literary attractions, is embarking on a new chapter with the announcement that it will relocate to a new permanent home at 604 Whitehead Street.  The museum's current location at 513 Truman Avenue will remain open through July 5, with the expanded museum anticipated to open in Fall 2026 following a comprehensive reimagining of the visitor experience. 

Originally established as a temporary exhibition in 2011 to commemorate the 100th birthday of legendary American playwright Tennessee Williams, the museum quickly became a permanent cultural destination after attracting enthusiastic support from residents and visitors alike.  Operated by the nonprofit Key West Art & Historical Society, the museum has spent the past 15 years preserving and celebrating the life, legacy, and enduring influence of one of America's greatest dramatists. 

Williams shared a profound connection with Key West, where he lived for more than three decades and wrote many of his later works.  The island became both his sanctuary and his creative home, offering the tranquility, inspiration, and sense of community that fueled his artistic life.  Today, his legacy remains woven into the cultural fabric of Key West, making the museum a must-visit destination for literary enthusiasts from around the world. 

The new location will provide significantly more exhibition space, allowing the museum to present a richer, more immersive exploration of Williams' life and career.  Visitors can look forward to expanded galleries featuring additional artifacts, photographs, manuscripts, multimedia presentations, and interpretive exhibits that more fully illustrate his extraordinary contributions to American theater and his lasting relationship with Key West. 

“The Tennessee Williams Museum began as a special centennial exhibition, but the overwhelming response made it clear that Key West needed a permanent home dedicated to preserving his remarkable legacy,” said Dennis Beaver, Founder and Curator of the Tennessee Williams Museum.  “This new location gives us the opportunity to tell that story in exciting new ways while creating an even more engaging experience for visitors.” 

Before the museum closes its doors at 513 Truman Avenue on July 5, visitors are invited to take advantage of a 25% storewide sale in the museum store.  The sale includes books and unique gifts inspired by Tennessee Williams and Key West, offering guests one last opportunity to shop the current location before the museum begins its transition to its new home. 

As a nonprofit organization, the Key West Art & Historical Society is inviting the community to help bring the reimagined Tennessee Williams Museum to life.  Donations will directly support the design and installation of new exhibitions, preservation of the museum’s collections, educational programming, and the creation of an enhanced visitor experience celebrating Williams’ enduring legacy in Key West. Those wishing to contribute can visit kwahs.org/donate and select “Tennessee Williams Museum” from the dropdown menu to designate their gift specifically for the museum project. 

Additional details about the museum's reopening and grand opening celebrations will be announced as the project progresses. 

The Tennessee Williams Museum, located at 513 Truman Avenue, is open daily for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information about the museum, admission, and upcoming programs, contact the Key West Art & Historical Society at 305-295-6616 or visit www.kwahs.org. 
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island. 

June 11, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  On Monday, June 22, the Key West Art & Historical Society welcomes historian Dr. Jason W. Smith for a lecture titled “Naval Gazing: Remembering the Maine and the Ordinary Origins of American Empire, 1898–1916.”  The talk, part of the Society’s Distinguished Speaker Series, will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street.

On the night of February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine suddenly exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, killing 266 men and propelling the United States toward war with Spain.  In this presentation, Smith examines how commemorative practices surrounding the Maine disaster shaped and reinforced public investment in the U.S. Navy, the state, and the emerging American empire in the years leading up to World War I.

His talk highlights the role of ordinary Americans in the nation’s rise to global power and explores how memory, spectacle, and naval culture intersected during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
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Jason W. Smith is Associate Professor of History at Southern Connecticut State University.  He previously served as the Class of 1957 Postdoctoral Fellow in Naval History at the United States Naval Academy.  Smith has published articles in numerous academic journals and is the author of “To Master the Boundless Sea: The U.S. Navy, the Marine Environment, and the Cartography of Empire” (2018).  He is currently at work on a new book titled “Sea Power and Spectacle: A Cultural History of Navalism and the Ordinary Origins of American Global Power.”

“This lecture looks beyond the explosion itself to explore how everyday Americans responded to and remembered the tragedy,” says Dr. Cori Convertito, historian for the Society.  “Through newspaper accounts, popular songs, and commemorative souvenirs and ephemera, audiences will see how public memory of the Maine helped shape national identity and the story of America’s rise to global power.”

This event is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required.  To reserve your spot, visit kwahs.org/whats-on.  Seating is limited.
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For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].

June 1, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Tennessee Williams Museum is proud to celebrate Pride Month by offering Buy One, Get One Free admission to all visitors throughout the month of June.

As one of America's most influential playwrights and a pioneering LGBTQ+ cultural figure, Tennessee Williams helped shape modern theater through works that explored identity, desire, and the human experience with remarkable honesty and compassion.  His enduring legacy continues to inspire audiences around the world and remains especially meaningful during Pride Month.

Located in the heart of Key West, where Williams lived and wrote for more than three decades, the Tennessee Williams Museum invites guests to explore the life and work of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author through exhibits, artifacts, photographs, and personal memorabilia that illuminate his extraordinary career and lasting impact on American literature.

“Key West provided Tennessee Williams with a creative refuge and a place where he could live authentically,” said Dennis Beaver, founder of the museum.  “Pride Month offers a wonderful opportunity to honor his contributions to both the arts and LGBTQ+ history while welcoming visitors to discover his story.”

The Buy One, Get One Free admission offer is valid throughout June 2026. To receive the discount, visitors must mention "Pride 2026" when purchasing museum admission in person or enter the code PRIDE2026 when purchasing tickets online.

The Tennessee Williams Museum, located at 513 Truman Avenue, is open daily for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information about the museum, admission, and upcoming programs, contact the Key West Art & Historical Society at 305-295-6616 or visit www.kwahs.org.

Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

March 23, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Tennessee Williams Museum invites the public to celebrate the 115th birthday of legendary playwright Tennessee Williams on March 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This beloved annual event, free and open to the public, serves as the grand finale of a month-long festival honoring Williams’ life and enduring legacy.

The celebration will offer a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for fans, friends, and visitors alike.  Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy award presentations for short story, poetry, and plein air painting contests, recognizing the creativity and talent inspired by Williams’ timeless work.  Professional actress George diBraud will present readings from the winning short stories and poems, offering attendees a unique opportunity to experience firsthand how Williams’ voice and vision continue to inspire writers across the country.  Attendees can also look forward to light snacks, birthday cake, and bubbly beverages while mingling with fellow members of the community.
“Keeping Tennessee Williams’ legacy alive here in Key West is deeply important to us,” said Dennis Beaver, founder and curator of the Tennessee Williams Museum.  “This island was not only his home but a source of inspiration, and through events like this, we ensure that his voice, his stories, and his impact continue to resonate with new generations.”

Organizers describe the event as a joyful tribute to one of America’s greatest playwrights, bringing people together to reflect on his lasting impact on literature and theater.  Whether a longtime admirer or discovering his work for the first time, guests are invited to raise a glass, share in the festivities, and celebrate the life and legacy of Tennessee Williams.
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For more information about the free event, visit kwahs.org/whats-on or contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].
Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

March 16, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society and the Tennessee Williams Museum are pleased to invite artists of all levels to participate in the 2026 Tennessee Williams Plein Air Painting Contest, taking place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Key West.

Inspired by the creative legacy of Tennessee Williams and his iconic play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” this year’s contest celebrates Williams’ expressive approach to painting – beginning and completing a work in just a few hours.  Artists are encouraged to embrace spontaneity and creativity while painting in plein air at any location across Key West that inspires them.  Each composition should incorporate a playful nod to the theme by including a cat on a roof somewhere within the scene.

Participants will begin the day by checking in the morning of March 21 at the Key West Museum of Art & History, where their canvas or paper will be officially stamped before they head out to paint.  Artists are required to bring their own materials.  Once stamped, they will spend the day painting outdoors throughout the island, capturing the atmosphere and architecture of Key West while interpreting the contest theme. Completed artwork must be returned to the museum by 3:00 p.m. the same day.

The competition includes professional and recreational divisions, with first-place prizes of $500 and second-place prizes of $250 in each category.  A student division is also offered with free entry and a special prize awarded to encourage emerging young artists.  The selected works will be displayed during a reception and awards presentation held on March 26 at the Tennessee Williams Museum as part of the annual Tennessee Williams Birthday Party celebration.  Participating artists will also have the opportunity to offer their finished works for sale during the event while retaining 100 percent of the sale price.

Registration for the contest is $35, and artists may choose any painting location in Key West. For more information or to register, visit kwahs.org/whats-on.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

March 9, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  Key West Art & Historical Society, Great Events Catering, and Unity Table at Williams Hall have teamed up to present their annual picnic-style heritage dinner prepared by acclaimed chefs Martha Hubbard and Dave Fuhrman.  This year’s Conch Revival Picnic takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on March 18 in Clinton Place Park, located just outside the Key West Museum of Art & History at 281 Front Street.

The new location complements the museum’s recently opened Smithsonian-backed regional FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine exhibition, offering guests the opportunity to experience the island’s culinary heritage both inside the museum galleries and outdoors through a communal dining celebration.  The picnic pays homage to the island’s Bahamian and Cuban culture through food, music, and a convivial community atmosphere.

This year’s menu begins with butler-passed hors d’oeuvres including bollos, conch salad, picadillo empanadas, and yuca frita croquetas.  The buffet dinner features whole roasted pig, whole roasted local fish, braised oxtail (rabo encendido), curried chicken, rice and pigeon peas, Jamaican jerk vegetable stew, Cuban foo foo, peel-and-eat Key West pink shrimp, tomato, avocado and pickled onion salad, hearts of palm with roasted pepper salad, and Lighthouse picnic salad.

Desserts include chocolate tres leches with coconut custard, Queen of All Puddings, guava cheesecake empanadas, and date cake with dulce de leche.

Inspired by Society board member and island native the late Dianne Zolotow, the Conch Revival Picnic tradition was launched in 2016 to increase awareness of Key West/Conch culture by preserving and promoting historic recipes created and consumed by Conch families for generations but which have, over time, been disappearing from memory and tables.  Many of the recipes are inspired by the postwar Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook edited by original Conch and first Florida Keys woman mayor Wilhelmina Harvey, as well as recipes from other historic cookbooks in the Society and Key West Public Library collections.

“Key West Art & Historical Society is honored to partner with Great Events and Williams Hall to celebrate our local Bahamian and Cuban communities for this year’s picnic,” says Society Executive Director Michael F. Gieda.  “Hosting the event beside the Key West Museum of Art & History also allows us to connect this living culinary tradition with the stories and foodways explored in our new Smithsonian-affiliated exhibition.”

Visit kwahs.org/whats-on to purchase your tickets.  Children under 12 admitted free with adults.  For more information and to access the full menu, contact Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507.  Sponsored by Great Events Catering and Williams Hall.

March 3, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  What happened before the fame?  Before The Glass Menagerie.  Before A Streetcar Named Desire.  Before the world knew the name Tennessee Williams.  For two nights only – Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14, 2026 – audiences at Williams Hall will step inside the restless, romantic, and razor-sharp mind of the young writer in Tennessee Rising: The Dawn of Tennessee Williams, an internationally acclaimed solo performance written and performed by Jacob Storms and originally directed for the stage by Tony Award winner Alan Cumming.

Presented as part of the annual Tennessee Williams Key West Festival in partnership with the Key West Art & Historical Society and Williams Hall, this powerful theatrical event explores a six-year period (1939–1945) never before dramatized on stage, the years that forged one of America’s most groundbreaking artists.  The play begins in a modest boarding house attic in New Orleans, where a 28-year-old Williams invites the audience to share a nightcap as a “kind stranger.”  From there, the story unfolds across America, through artistic failures, romantic heartbreak, literary ambition, and personal reckoning.  We witness the humiliating Boston collapse of his early play Battle of Angels, his obsessive dedication to writing, and the emotional devastation that hardened his once-romantic heart.

We also see the profound influence of his sister Rose’s mental illness, the real-life inspirations behind some of his most iconic characters, and the relentless persistence that led, finally, to the Broadway triumph of The Glass Menagerie in 1945, transforming him, seemingly overnight, into a literary force.

Storms has performed Tennessee Rising around the world, including extended Off-Broadway runs and a 23-performance engagement at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  Broadway World hailed the production as “an electrifying event not to be missed!”

Following each Key West performance, audiences are invited to remain for a special talkback with Storms, offering a rare opportunity for conversation and insight into the creation of the piece.

For those seeking a fully immersive evening, a limited number of dinner-and-a-show packages are available, featuring a three-course dinner at Unity Table prepared by Chef Martha Hubbard at 6:00 PM, followed by the 8:00 PM performance downstairs at Williams Hall.
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To reserve your ticket; visit kwahs.org/whats-on.  Tickets are $50 for general admission and $70 for balcony seating.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].
Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.