The Hellings Curry Museum, located at 319 Duval Street, is one of Key West’s most iconic historic homes and a rare example of 19th-century brick architecture on the island. Built in 1892, the 8,334-square-foot Queen Anne-style mansion was commissioned by Captain Martin Luther Hellings and his wife, Eleanor Curry Hellings. Eleanor was the sixth of eight children born to William and Euphemia Curry. William Curry was one of Key West’s most prominent merchants and Florida’s first self-made millionaire, amassing his fortune through shipping and mercantile ventures.

The home was constructed during a time of dramatic transition in Key West’s history. Just a few years earlier, in 1886, a devastating fire swept across the island, destroying over 600 homes, eleven cigar factories, six wharves, several churches, and the island’s entire tobacco supply. With the city’s firefighting equipment ironically in New York for repairs, citizens were left with only bucket brigades to contain the flames. The aftermath left many residents with no choice but to relocate, often to Havana or Tampa, which was rising as a competing cigar industry hub.

Determined to keep his family rooted in Key West and help rebuild the community, William Curry gave each of his children $10,000—a substantial sum at the time—to buy land, build homes, or expand existing properties. This act not only helped to preserve his family’s presence on the island but also contributed significantly to the city’s recovery. Shipbuilders, previously vital to Key West’s seafaring economy, were soon repurposed as homebuilders during this reconstruction period.

Captain Martin Hellings, who managed the International Ocean Telegraph Company, played a pivotal role in Key West’s development and even provided crucial communications support to the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War. The home he and Eleanor built stands today as a testament to their legacy and the Curry family’s lasting impact on the island.

In 1940, the Key West Woman’s Club purchased the mansion, transforming it into their permanent headquarters. Since then, the Club has preserved the building and, in doing so, protected an essential piece of Key West’s cultural and architectural heritage. Today, the home operates as the Hellings Curry Museum, offering the public a glimpse into the island’s Gilded Age and the philanthropic roots of one of its founding families. Through ongoing restoration efforts like the “Saving Eleanor” campaign, the Key West Woman’s Club continues its commitment to maintaining this historic treasure for future generations.

November  – June 
Monday – Friday
10 AM – 4 PM

June  – October **     
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
10 AM – 4 PM

** Please note: We will be closed the last two weeks of July & August for maintenance.

*Saturdays & Sundays by Appointment

Hours subject to change

Group Tours – Flexible Hours
Please contact us about group tours, school tours, and/or Holiday tours.

Phone: 305-294-2039
Email: Keywestwomansclub@gmail.com