Key West Historic District

Architectural characteristics in the Historic District

The basic features which distinguish “Conch” architecture, those frame structures built circa 1830-1920, include: the use of wood, typically as horizontal siding, as the exterior fabric; buildings of 1, 2, or 2 1/2 stories; early structural connections of mortise and tenon joints secured by wooden pegs, followed by balloon frame [...]

History of Key West Part 1

SKETCH OF HISTORY
Pre-History
The Florida Keys were occupied by Indians as long ago as 7,000 B.C. The Calusa Indians and later the Ais Indians migrated to Key West prior to the eighteenth century. They engaged in trade with the Europeans but relocated to Cuba and elsewhere when England took possession of [...]

House Histories

Historic and Photographic Montages of Historic Structures
The creation of House Histories, she calls Gingerbread Biographies, is Wells’ newest art venture. Each Biography pulls together Wells’ expertise in history, archival research, art and architectural photography. Each individual commission, is exclusively compiled for the Homeowner. Combining historic & contemporary photographs, deeds, wills, maps and plats, genealogy, with [...]

Sharon Wells

Photographer, painter & historian
Sharon Wells, a Key West artist and historian, began photographing Key West’s landmark architecture in1976. She opened Key West Light Gallery in 2002. Located on Upper Duval Street, Key West Light Gallery showcases Wells’ brilliant color photographs, Fauvist-inspired paintings and unique ceramic tiles with images of Key West houses, palms, botanicals, [...]