Life around the Florida Keys is full of history. Homes built over the years reflect our unique island style, and how varied the people and communities have been, and still are. You can get in touch with our past, and be inspired by creative home design with the Key West Historical Home Tour, coming up December 27th– 28th.
Sponsored by the Old Island Restoration Foundation (OIRF) and the Monroe County Tourism Development Council, this is the first of four monthly historical home tours. Each tour will focus on various architectural styles which have heavily influenced home design around the Florida Keys. We have homes built in the 1800’s; from quaint cottages, to shotgun homes, on up to grand Victorian manors. There are also some amazing mid-century, vintage homes with their own Caribbean style added in. In December’s tour, you can view homes around Old Town, Key West, all decked out for the holidays.
With almost 3,000 buildings, Key West’s Old Town is said to be the largest historic district in the United States made predominately of wood. It is from the efforts of the OIRF, and the community’s support, that these 
structures are still around. But there is more to it than just preservation. Old Town is a thriving community with bed & breakfast establishments and museum attractions, including the famous, Hemingway Home. Along with plenty of private homes throughout Old Town, the area is still vibrant.
Guests will get a peek into select historical homes, seeing how these home owners have been able to retain the classic designs through creative renovations and remodeling. Gardens will also be open to help inspire your own bit of paradise. Also on view will be some incredible art collections and antiques.
The tours are self-guided, and there are some things to note no matter when you go. To respect the privacy of the owners, no photos are allowed. Also, food, drinks, and dogs are not permitted. Tickets are $35 if you purchase them on the day of the tour. You can save a bit by purchasing tickets online before the tour for $30.
The Key West Historical Home Tour is a great way to discover some island history, and incredible home design ideas for yourself. If you are ready to enjoy life in the Florida Keys year-round, or want to buy or sell a home in the Key West area, please contact me, Jimmy Lane, for all of your real estate needs.