Key West Home Tours Celebrate Architecture, Preservation and Community
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Restored cigar-makers’ cottages and elegant Victorian mansions stand side by side on Key West’s narrow streets, creating an intriguing architectural fusion in the Old Town district — believed to be the United States’ largest predominantly wooden historic district.
Visitors can explore houses exemplifying Key West’s rich architectural tradition, as well as unique examples of contemporary Florida Keys design.
Now in their 64th year, the annual tours are presented by the nonprofit Old Island Restoration Foundation. The foundation was established in 1960 to protect and preserve Key West’s historic architecture and cultural heritage.
The first two tours took place Jan. 12-13 and Feb. 16-17. Remaining tours are scheduled for March 15-16. Tours showcases five homes chosen for their historical significance, creative renovations, distinctive modern designs or representations of Keys living. Among them are homes that once served other purposes including a converted mortuary and a former dance hall.
Tour participants can discover unique interiors filled with art collections and antiques, and exteriors with lush gardens and imaginatively configured outdoor living areas. Through the tours, visitors have a rare chance to gain intimate insights into Key West’s lifestyle and culture.
OIRF volunteers serve as guides at each tour stop, providing information about the property’s history, architecture and décor.
All 2024 tours are set for 1-4 p.m., with visitors to travel between homes at their chosen speed via their own transportation. Each month’s tour features a different group of homes and a different experience for participants.
Tickets for each tour cost $55 per person, and a four-tour package is available for $200 per person. Old Island Restoration Foundation members receive special pricing.
Proceeds from the home tours support the foundation’s programming, grants and stewardship of Key West’s Oldest House Museum and Gardens.
Tour information and ticketing: oirf.org or 305-294-9501
Tours are planned one weekend a month through March, with doors open on 5 distinctive homes and their gardens, revealing a range of architectural gems and eclectic art. The home pictured was featured on a precious years' tour.
Each tour features five homes, such as this one on Pinder Lane from a previous years' tour, that provide a glimpse into Keys living and the homeowner's taste in decor and art.