August 11, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society, in partnership with Just A Few Friends Key West, invites the public to a compelling afternoon of storytelling, music history, and cultural exploration at Tropic Cinema with a Distinguished Speaker Series lecture titled “Yes, I am a Pirate.”  The event features author and native Conch Scott Atwell, who will present his latest work uncovering the real-life inspiration behind one of Jimmy Buffett’s most iconic songs, “A Pirate Looks at Forty.”

Taking place on Friday, August 29, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., this unique event offers an intimate look into the life of Phil Clark, the enigmatic figure who inspired Buffett’s legendary ballad.  While the song conjures a poetic image of a romantic rogue, Atwell’s meticulously researched book, “Buffett Backstories,” reveals a far more complex character—one who transformed from New York socialite to tropical outlaw, leaving a wake of scandal, mystery, and reinvention behind him.

“This isn’t just a story about one man,” says Atwell.  “It’s a narrative that threads through the very fabric of Key West history and the mythos of Jimmy Buffett’s music.”

Following the lecture, Atwell will be joined on stage for a dynamic guest panel discussion, featuring individuals whose lives were directly touched by Clark:
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• Carol Shaughnessy, writer and one of Clark’s former fiancées, who later became editor of Buffett’s “Coconut Telegraph” newsletter.
• Chris Robinson, veteran flats guide and former bartender at the legendary Chart Room, who lived below Jimmy Buffett in the Waddell Street compound.
• Flip McCririck, Clark’s first-born son and acclaimed sports photographer, who only recently discovered his father’s connection to Buffett’s legacy.

Atwell will also be on hand to sell and sign copies of his book, “Buffett Backstories,” a must-have for Parrotheads and Key West history buffs alike.  The book dives deep into the origins of Jimmy Buffett’s most beloved songs, blending music, memory, and real-life characters like Phil Clark who helped shape an island-era legend.

Tickets to “Yes, I am a Pirate” are $15 per person, and advance purchase is highly recommended.  Tickets and additional information are available at kwahs.org/event/dss-pirate.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].

Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

August 4, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Museum of Art & History is calling on residents of Key West and Monroe County to dig into their pantries, storage nooks, and attics — and share the tools, traditions, and family heirlooms that tell the story of how food has shaped island life over the decades.

As part of an exciting new collaboration with Florida Humanities and the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), the museum is preparing to launch a landmark exhibition titled “FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine”, set to open in late February 2026.

This exhibit is one of the first in a new national initiative, the “Exhibition Starter Kit: FOOD” program, which empowers local museums to explore regional culinary histories through community participation and storytelling.  Thanks to a grant secured in June 2024 from Florida Humanities, and with guidance and resources from the Smithsonian, the Key West Museum of Art & History will bring this innovative and deeply local exhibit to life.

Museum curator and historian Dr. Cori Convertito is inviting residents to lend objects that reflect the unique food culture of the Florida Keys.  These items can include—but are not limited to—vintage kitchen tools, antique cookware, old fishing equipment, family recipe cards, menus from long-gone restaurants, or even furniture that once held a place in historic kitchens.

“This is an incredible opportunity to bring the Smithsonian experience to Monroe County while spotlighting the real stories and heritage of our community,” said Convertito.  “We’re looking for those tangible pieces of the past—perhaps a hand-cranked milk separator, a weathered Key Lime Pie tin, bottles from Adams Dairy, or even a well-used ice chest—that can help us illustrate the culinary history that has shaped our Conch identity.”

Convertito added that objects such as antique dining furniture, aged silverware sets, or long-retired cooking utensils could also provide a compelling window into the everyday lives of past generations.

How to Contribute
Residents who own historically significant or meaningful food-related items are encouraged to share their stories for possible inclusion in the exhibition based on the museum’s curatorial needs.
Contributors should email [email protected] with the following:

• Clear photographs of the item(s)
• A brief description of the object(s)
• Information on who in the family used the item(s) and during what time period

“This is your chance to be part of an important story—to help us preserve and share the flavors, traditions, and voices that define life in the Keys,” Convertito said.

To learn more about the upcoming “FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine” exhibit and how you can get involved, please visit the museum’s website at: kwahs.org/exhibit/food/

Your Museums. Your Community. It Takes an Island.

July 28, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society is pleased to announce the next installment of its engaging lecture series, “Happy Hour with the Historian,” set for Thursday, August 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Comedy Key West, 218 Whitehead Street.

Next month’s featured lecture, entitled “An Architectural Crown Jewel: A History of the Custom House,” will be presented by Key West Art & Historical Society curator and resident historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D.

Whether arriving by land, sea, or air, visitors to Key West are inevitably drawn to the grand, red brick Custom House, a towering icon of the island’s architectural and cultural history.  In her lecture, Dr. Convertito will explore the compelling story behind the building—from its original 1891 role as a federal hub housing the Collector of Customs, the Postal Service, and the Federal Courthouse, to its modern-day function as a world-class museum.

The lecture will highlight the building’s unique Richardsonian Romanesque design—the only example of its kind in the Florida Keys—as well as the extensive and ongoing preservation efforts that safeguard this symbol of Key West’s past.

“Happy Hour with the Historian is designed to blend education with a relaxed and social atmosphere,” said Convertito.  “It’s a great way to connect with local history while enjoying a drink and engaging with fellow history enthusiasts.  The Custom House is one of the most iconic and architecturally significant buildings in Key West, and I’m excited to share stories about its fascinating past, its role in shaping the island, and the efforts made to preserve it for future generations.”
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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.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island

July 10, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society invites the public to a special evening reception on Friday, July 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Key West Museum of Art & History to celebrate the opening of Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher, a captivating exhibition on temporary loan from the Museum of Florida History that offers an intimate glimpse into the raw beauty of Florida’s vanishing wilderness.

This remarkable collection showcases the work of Clyde Butcher, one of America’s most celebrated landscape photographers, often hailed as the “Ansel Adams of Florida.”  Through his powerful large-format black and white photography, Butcher captures the breathtaking serenity, mystery, and grandeur of Florida’s natural environment—its swamps, wetlands, mangroves, and the untouched corners of the Everglades.

Visions of Florida is more than a photography exhibition; it is an immersive journey into a fragile ecosystem under threat.  Butcher’s lens reveals a side of Florida that few tourists—and even longtime residents—ever experience.  Renowned for his adventurous and painstaking photographic process, Butcher often wades waist-deep into remote marshes, swamp waters, and riverbeds, braving the elements and wildlife to capture the perfect shot.  Armed with a custom-built large-format camera and a fearless spirit, he has endured mosquitoes, heat, and even close encounters with alligators—all in pursuit of a fleeting moment of perfect light and composition.

“Clyde Butcher’s work reminds us of the extraordinary natural heritage we stand to lose,” says Society curator Cori Convertito, Ph.D.  “His images speak not only to the aesthetic power of photography but also to the urgent need for environmental stewardship.”

The exhibition will be on view in the Bumpus Gallery at the Key West Museum of Art & History through October 19, 2025.  This reception is free and open to the public.  All are welcome to attend and experience the striking beauty of Visions of Florida through the eyes of one of the country’s most gifted nature photographers.

For more information, please visit kwahs.org/butcher-opening or contact the Key West Art & Historical Society at (305) 295-6616.

April 9, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society welcomes the public to a special reception on May 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to mark the opening of its latest exhibit “The Stonewall Riots: The Start of a Movement.”  The exhibition, on temporary loan from the Stonewall National Museum Archives and Library, will be on display during Pride Month at the Key West Museum of Art & History, 281 Front Street.  Museum visitors will be transported back to the iconic New York City bar hours before the historic Stonewall Riots set in motion a global LGBTQ+ human rights movement in June 1969.

The original Stonewall Inn was a mob-owned bar in Greenwich Village in an area commonly referred to as the West Village.  The quarter was home to numbers of gay and lesbian bars, many of which were raided periodically with the patrons and employees being harassed, arrested, and assaulted.  On Friday night, June 27, 1969, police raided the bar, sparking a riot among bar patrons and residents, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar and neighboring streets.  These protests are viewed as the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

Visitors to the exhibition will be carried back to the gritty interior of the Stonewall Inn, featuring a ‘smoky’ bar setting with a vintage jukebox playing 1969 hits.  A virtual bartender discusses life in the West Village during that time period, while virtual bar patrons recall the night of the raid and the subsequent days when gay rights activists took to the streets of New York.  The traveling exhibit also features artifacts and educational text panels to tell the story of this pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history.

“In bringing the “Stonewall Uprising” exhibition to the island during Key West Pride Month, it is the Society’s hope to share this powerful moment—that confrontational June evening—that inspired people from all walks of life to galvanize the LGBTQ+ movement,” says Society curator Dr. Cori Convertito.  “In the wake of the Stonewall Riots, Key West became a popular community for the LGBTQ+ community in the 1970s.  The influx of mostly gay men and lesbian women that arrived during that era established several locally cherished businesses including Key West Aloe, the Monster Bar, Fast Buck Freddie’s, the Key West Business Guild, and Gingerbread Square Gallery.  Key West is the perfect city to host this traveling exhibition.”

“The Stonewall Uprising: The Start of a Movement” runs until July 5 in the Bumpus Gallery of the Key West Museum of Art & History and is sponsored in part by Jim Speake and the Key West Business Guild.  For more information on the exhibit or the public reception, visit kwahs.org/stonewall-opening, call Convertito on 305-295-6616 x 507, or email [email protected].

Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

March 31, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  On Thursday, April 10, join author and shipwreck enthusiast Dr. Brian Magrane as he shares his vast knowledge of Florida shipwreck treasure and the art of “reading” Spanish seventeenth- and eighteenth-century coins.  His lecture, titled “Florida Shipwreck Treasure Coins,” is part of the Key West Art & Historical Society’s Distinguished Speaker Series.  The talk takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street.
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Historic coins provide vital clues to world events and alliances.  The heraldic symbolism stamped on both sides of European coins is imperative to archeologists’ understanding of particular time periods, turbulent political landscapes, and the history of submerged artifacts.  During this informative talk, Dr. Magrane will analyze his own extensive collection which consists of coins struck in South America and were loaded onto ships bound for Spain.  More specifically, he will concentrate on the shipwreck treasures of both the Nuestra Señora de Atocha of the 1622 Fleet and the vast gold coins of the 1715 Fleet.

Dr. Brian Magrane is an Islamorada-based physician and is the author of “Tortugas Deep-Sea: The Story of a Merchant Ship.”  In addition to being an author, he is also an avid shipwreck coin collector.  He became fascinated by Florida’s sunken treasures and has been heavily involved in maritime heritage projects and shipwreck treasure research.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Magrane as April’s distinguished speaker.  We had the pleasure of hosting him three years ago to speak on a different shipwreck topic,” says Cori Convertito, curator for the Society.  “He is an engaging and knowledgeable speaker who is well acquainted with coin reading, as well as being conversant in the Spanish treasure fleets, the shipwrecks themselves, and subsequent salvage efforts.”

To reserve your spot at the lecture; visit kwahs.org/whats-on.  Tickets are $13 for KWAHS members, $17 for non-members.  Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the event.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].

Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island

March 7, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society, in collaboration with the Tennessee Williams Museum and the Key West Woman’s Club, is pleased to present an intimate concert featuring the acclaimed singer and pianist Bobby Nesbitt, along with the versatile performer Carmen Rodriguez.  This event will celebrate the music based on the works of renowned American playwright and Key West resident Tennessee Williams.  The concert is scheduled to be held at the historic Hellings Curry Museum, located at 319 Duval Street, on March 15.  Doors will open at 5:00 p.m., with the performance commencing at 5:30 p.m.  Attendees will also enjoy light refreshments, including canapés and prosecco.

Inspired by Williams’ iconic play, "A Streetcar Named Desire," and its vibrant New Orleans backdrop, Bobby and Carmen have curated a lively musical selection designed to captivate the audience.  This engaging performance features a range of popular songs from the 1940s to the 1970s, including numerous tracks made famous by Williams’ films.  The event aligns with the annual Tennessee Williams Festival, held each March, which celebrates the playwright who resided in Key West for more than thirty years.

“It brings us great joy that Bobby and Carmen have once more agreed to take the stage as part of the Tennessee Williams Festival,” remarked Dennis Beaver, founder of the Tennessee Williams Museum.  “Last year’s performance left a lasting impression on the audience, and we are thrilled that the Hellings Curry Museum is hosting the event—it is an ideal setting for the concert.”

A limited number of tickets are available on the festival’s website, www.twfest.org/events.  The ticket price includes complimentary refreshments donated by the Key West Art & Historical Society and the Key West Woman’s Club.  For more information, contact Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

March 3, 2025 – (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 11 on the grounds of the Key West Lighthouse, 938 Whitehead Street.  The picnic pays homage to the island’s Bahamian and Cuban culture through food, music, and a convivial community atmosphere.

This year’s feast starts off with deviled crawfish, conch fritters, and picadillo arepas followed by the main course of whole roasted local fish, roasted pig, Spanish paella, Hukilau’s coconut chicken, conch chowder, and Jamaican jerked calabaza stew.  Save room for key lime pie and Miss Etta’s coconut cake.  As always, there will be a full cash bar and live music.

Inspired by The Society’s board member, 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 presented are inspired by the postwar Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook as well as recipes from other publications in the collection of The Society.

“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. “It’s a marvelous opportunity for all of the island’s heritages to come together and share a meal that highlights some of our delicious culinary traditions.”

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, Fausto’s Food Palace, and Williams Hall.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.
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February 18, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art and Historical Society announces a $15,000 donation from Save a Tree/Key West, a registered 501(c)3, to plant additional trees at Fort East Martello Museum.  The much-needed funds were raised during the Merili McCoy Royal Poinciana Red Party fundraiser held on the grounds of the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum in June 2024.

Owing to an eventful hurricane season, many of the trees planted at the Fort East Martello Museum during a Monroe County-led water mitigation project did not survive.  The donation will allow for new quality plantings, which will be overseen by the Society and Save a Tree/Key West board members.  All trees planted will be in honor of “The Original Tree Lady of Key West” Merili McCoy, late Key West City Commissioner and wife of former Key West Mayor Sonny McCoy.

“I would like to thank the entire Board of Directors, the generous Merili McCoy Royal Poinciana Red Party sponsors, as well as the extremely generous, tree loving community of Key West and beyond for their support,” says Karen Ludwig-O’Leary, Save a Tree/Key West board president.  “We could not have done it without the community’s support.  Our motto is to Plant, Respect, and Maintain.”

Following the water mitigation project and upgrades to the Fort’s Parade Grounds that were completed by Monroe County in 2021, the rejuvenated space hosted a variety of community events and programs including concerts, music festivals, fundraisers, free outdoor movies, and youth education camps.  Trees that were initially planted during the construction phase to provide vital shade were ravaged during last year’s hurricane season.  With this generous donation, the Society will plant additional trees that will enhance the property and provide shade for year-round community programming.

“Fort East Martello has long played a key role in the Key West community since it was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century.  Local residents have customarily used the structure and the surrounding grounds for picnics and social events for years,” says Michael F. Gieda, Executive Director for the Society.  “Last year’s storms severely damaged recently planted trees on the property.  We are elated to have this support and partnership with Save a Tree/Key West.”

Save a Tree/Key West will host its next fundraiser at the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum on Friday, May 16.  For more information about the fundraiser, or to make a donation, please visit saveatreekw.org.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.