Museum Tour

Your visit to The Oldest House Museum is a step back in history to the world of pre-Victorian, 19th century Key West.

This enduring home was built by shipping apprentice Richard Cussans from the Bahamas in 1829.

The prosperous maritime pilot, master wrecker and State Senator, Captain Francis Watlington, lived here with his wife Emeline and their nine daughters.

The Watlington family and their descendants lived here for over 140 years. Slated for destruction after the last descendant, Earle Johnson, left the house in 1972, the house was saved by Mrs. Rosemary Austin of Islamorada, FL who donated it to the State of Florida. The house was in poor condition but was fully restored by Old Island Restoration Foundation and opened to the public in 1975.

Today, the home and its furnishings reflect the elegance and comfortable living enjoyed by the Watlington family in Key West.