There is a big celebration happening in Key West in 2022. A Bicentennial celebration Heritage Festival March 19 -30, 2022. It marks the anniversary of the island’s settlement. March 25 officially marks the bicentennial anniversary of the first permanent settlement founded in Key West. Still, the festivities started on January 21, with the Key West 200 exhibit opening its doors to welcome visitors to learn about the island’s unique history as the southernmost point in the United States. Now is the perfect time to plan your Key West Vacation package and be part of the celebration.
Some of the artifacts visitors can expect to see include cigar-rolling tools, 19th-century homewares, clothing, journals, and photographs, as well as Overseas Railway memorabilia, Ernest Hemingway’s boxing gloves, and tools used by indigenous communities. Museum visitors will be delighted to discover that tourism is only a small portion of the story. The true breadth, depth, and diversity of the island have a captivating history to celebrate. The Key West Trolley is a great way to get around. The fishing in Key West is not to be missed.
There is also a Key West 200 exhibit open through December 11, 2022. In addition, a granite time capsule will be filled and placed in the city on March 25. Events will include drone fireworks, special lectures, ceremonies, flag-raising at Mallory Square, and community celebrations. Everyone is invited to participate, kids, adults, residents, tourists, and pets, to celebrate the city, the history of Key West, and the people.
The post office in Key West has created a specialized collector’s item cancel stamp, so any mail coming through the 33040 zip code during that week, will be canceled with the unique stamp. In addition, Key West’s Bicentennial will include film nights with productions written by Tennessee Williams, who lived in Key West for more than 30 years. To complete a history-filled visit, take a look at Casa Marina, built more than 100 years ago. The plans for this resort were conceived by Henry Flagler, the railroad tycoon who built the Overseas Railway connecting Key West to the mainland.
