Review: Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

What's the story behind this museum?
What the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum lacks in size it makes up for in one-of-a-kind historical artifacts. The museum—which is located in a 1910 building that originally served as a Navy storehouse—is home to pieces of four ships: the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and the Santa Margarita, which both sank during a 1622 hurricane; The St. John’s Wreck, which transported conquistadors to the Caribbean in the mid-16th century; and the Henrietta Marie, an English slave ship that wrecked less than 50 miles off the coast of Key West. It’s a riveting look at the island's maritime history—often overlooked when viewing the city through modern eyes. As far as Key West's museums, go, this one is a must-visit.

Tell us a little more about the collection.
The museum’s collection of sunken treasures includes silver and gold bars and coins as well as tools and weaponry, some dating back centuries. It’s like ‘The Goonies’ come to life. Those shiny wares are a great way to draw visitors into the world of Mel Fisher, the treasure hunter for whom the museum is named.

How easy is it to get around?
The museum’s artifacts are securely displayed and well laid out over two floors. It’s easy to get around and see everything in a pretty short amount of time, without ever feeling claustrophobic from crowds. While we noticed more than one person grab a seat outside the museum and enjoy some people-watching, the museum is laid out in such a way that it’s easy for most everyone to get through without much trouble.

What's the crowd like?
Though a few of our fellow museum-goers seemed intent on whizzing through, shipwreck enthusiasts and history buffs will be enthralled from the get-go. Being able to stand within inches of centuries-old artifacts that took almost as long to uncover, will give them a thrill.

Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it?
Like the museum itself, the gift shop is small but well-stocked—the perfect spot to find a memento to bring home with you.

If we're tight on time, is it still worth a stop?
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is chock full of treasure, but small enough that you can get a glimpse of pretty much everything in 60 to 90 minutes. If you’re looking to do some helicopter museum-going, you’ll want to focus in on the bars of gold and silver that were salvaged from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and the Santa Margarita. Visitors used to be able to lift one of those gold bars through a display case contraption, to see just how heavy it was… until a museumgoer made off with it. It was finally recovered nearly 10 years later.