Florida Archives and Manuscripts Repositories

All furnishings reflect the elegant and comfortable living enjoyed by a wealthy family in Key West during the mid-1800’s. 31 of the original hand colored Antique engravings of the 22 birds J.J. Audubon painted in the Florida Keys during his 6 week visit in 1832 can be seen throughout the House. In addition to informative reading panels, an introduction to the property and its history will be given and then explore the house and gardens. Has a collection of letters and photographs from the Geiger Family Papers. Captain Geiger, a licensed bar pilot, built the house in 1846 and the family occupied the property until 1956.

This was the first restoration project in Key West and is still considered the gem of the island's restoration movement.

This collection contains the surveys, maps, drawings and field notes of Howard England who was instrumental in excavating artifacts in the Fort as well as photographs of the Fort, city events and people.

Items are currently being stored at the the Florida Park Service Historic Collections Facility & Archives in the Department of Environmental Protection in Tallahassee and are being processed to facilitate their cataloging, conservation, and digitization. When finished and a suitable permanent facility is created at the Fort they will be returned.

Citizen Support Organization of the Florida Park Service. Works toward helping the park preserve its natural and cultural resources. conduct programs and activities, sponsor research, sponsor promotions, raise funds, request and receive grants, gifts and contributions, dues and bequests of money….and make expenditures and distributions to or for the benefit of Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.

The papers of Mel Fisher, films, photographs and other materials documenting treasure hunting and associated archeology. The only fully accredited museum in the Florida Keys and also a nationally recognized research and archaeology institution. Collection contains approximately 100,000 artifacts. Operates a two thousand square foot conservation laboratory that specializes in conserving underwater archaeological artifacts. Among these are items relating to exploration, commerce and technology, with an emphasis on early Caribbean history, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and the Florida Keys.

This repository holds local government records, court records, 1823-1845, several large scrapbooks containing photographs of Key West and the Keys, genealogical oral histories, land records and some local business materials. The Scott De Wolfe collection contains some of the oldest images of Key West. Many are now in an online gallery as is a Key Name Search Gazetteer which gives the origins of the names of the Florida Keys.