Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden — Attraction in Key West

In the heart of Mallory Square, where tourists typically gather for sunset celebrations, the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden offers a quieter reflection on the island's past. This open-air collection, free to all visitors, presents a curated narrative of local history through bronze busts of the city's notable figures, arranged along brick pathways amid tropical foliage.

The garden, dedicated in 1997, began with 36 bronze busts and was designed to eventually accommodate 72. Each sculpture rests on a rough-hewn coral stone pedestal, creating a visual rhythm as one moves through the space. The weathered patina of the bronze against the textured stone speaks to the island's maritime environment, where salt air transforms all it touches.

Among the memorials, Margo Golan's bust commands attention, her plaque detailing her transformation of Key West's hospitality industry in the 1950s. Nearby, the likeness of Tennessee Williams reminds visitors of the playwright's deep connection to the island where he completed "A Street Car Named Desire" and owned a home on Duncan Street until his death in 1983.

The central sculptural element—a bronze figure climbing aboard what appears to be a ship's deck—provides dynamic counterpoint to the more formal busts. This figure, likely representing the island's seafaring tradition, seems perpetually in motion against the static portraits surrounding it, embodying Key West's historical relationship with the ocean.

What makes this collection particularly noteworthy isn't its artistic innovation but rather its community origins. Funded entirely through private donations, the garden represents a grassroots effort to memorialize a specific vision of Key West's history. This selectivity inevitably raises questions about whose stories are preserved in bronze and whose remain untold.

The garden's setting enhances its appeal, with dappled sunlight filtering through palm fronds creating shifting patterns across the sculptures throughout the day. Brick and stone pavers form a checkerboard path between the displays, while a wrought-iron fence provides a subtle boundary without isolating the garden from its surroundings.

For the visitor seeking a moment of respite from Duval Street's exuberance, this thoughtfully designed space offers both shade and contemplation. As an introduction to Key West's history, it provides an accessible, if carefully curated, entry point. The true value of the garden, however, lies in its invitation to consider not just who is represented in this bronze anthology, but who is absent from its pages.

For those looking to delve deeper, the garden serves as a starting point for exploration of the island's complex past—a free open-air museum that rewards unhurried observation and a...

The sculpture garden is located in Mallory Square in front of the Waterfront Playhouse and adjacent to the Key West Chamber of Commerce. Built in 1997 it's free to browse the who's who of Key West history. The first thing that came to mind when I saw it was that it looked just like the Haunted Mansion, my favorite ride at Disney World. I think it is the green color of the busts that bring the image to mind. I half expected to hear them start singing Grim Grinning Ghosts.

The sculpture The Wreckers honors the founders of Key West who salvaged shipwrecks which contributed to the economy and the 36 busts of notable Key West residents were made by master sculpture James Mastin. His work can be found all over the country as well as the Bahamas where he recorded their history and championed their culture. He passed away in 2017.

Since I love history I took the time to read the plaques under the busts. Some of the gardens residents of note include Asa F. Tift who built the Hemmingway house. Henry Flagler in 1912 completed the Florida Overseas Railroad making it possible for people to visit key West. Ellen Russell Mallory was the first white woman settler of Key West. She served as the town nurse during Yellow Fever outbreaks and operated the only lodging in key West for many years. Mallory square is named after her son. Lena Johnson was the first woman to hold elective office in Monroe county and served on the Key West city commission from 1927 until 1929. She was also a supporter of the Boy Scouts. William A. Whitehead completed the first survey of the island, was elected mayor, and crested the first school. Tennessee Williams was a famous playwright who lived in Key West until his death. Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States and his Little White House served as his winter residence in Key West. Of course the garden wouldn't be complete without a bust of author Ernest Hemingway. Papa was the island's most famous resident and his name and image can be found everywhere.

In addition to the sculptures in the garden people can purchase engraved bricks for $100 to put in the walkways. The famous and the not so famous can be memorialized here. Keeping watch over the garden are Key West's famous roosters who hang out in the trees over the gardens. I enjoyed my visit and...

Этот сад скульптур, на котором размещены 36 бронзовых бюстов, представляющих важных и известных людей из истории Ки-Уэста, острова размером 4 на 2 мили в конце архипелага Флорида-Кис, расположен на оригинальной береговой линии в оживленном районе Мэллори-сквер (популярном туристическом районе, куда люди приходят каждый вечер, чтобы поаплодировать закату).

Недавно отпраздновавший свое 25-летие сад был создан по инициативе «Друзья Мэллори-сквер» и открыт в сентябре 1997 года в честь мужчин и женщин, оказавших наибольшее влияние на Ки-Уэст .

Здесь увековечены некоторые знакомые лица и имена, такие как рыбак, пьяница и писатель Эрнест Хемингуэй, бывший президент Гарри С. Труман и железнодорожный магнат Генри М. Флаглер, но взгляд на других открывает глубокую и часто малоизвестную историю острова, который ежегодно принимает около 1 миллиона посетителей.

Все бюсты были созданы покойным скульптором Джеймсом Мастином, который создавал свои различные проектные работы изначально из глины или воска, а затем отливал их в бронзу, нержавеющую сталь, полиэфирные смолы или формованную медь. Его самая впечатляющая работа здесь — большая, вызывающая воспоминания скульптура The Wreckers, которая имеет длину 18 футов и высоту 25 футов и передает ранний дух Ки-Уэста как грубого и готового к жизни морского города на границе молодой Америки.

Первые разрушители, показанные здесь (а они не были теми, кого мы называем «пиратами», поскольку имели официальную лицензию (более или менее)), показаны спасающими жизни, а также ценный (но часто неизвестный) груз с одного из многих сотен судов, которые сели на мель, подверглись опасности или были выброшены на берег многочисленных рифов.

Крушение судов сделало остров богатым, и в середине 1800-х годов город в расчете на душу населения был самым богатым в Америке: сборы за спасение сделали капитанов, команды, бизнесменов, юристов, клерков, упаковщиков, рабочих доков и страховых агентов, а также многих других, действительно богатыми.

Территория парка в основном выложена спонсорскими кирпичами и известна как Аллея истории. Здесь можно увидеть некоторые известные имена, такие как писатель и режиссер Хэл Хартли, а также множество местных жителей, гостей и поклонников Ки-Ларго и...