Tom Majors Garden
Original Cookhouse
Tucked behind the Oldest House is one of the museum's most remarkable treasures—the last remaining original cookhouse in Key West, dating to approximately 1838. Once an essential part of daily life, detached kitchens kept the dangers of fire, heat, and smoke away from the family home.
The cookhouse is also a testament to the island's maritime past. Its sizable timber frame is believed to have been built from salvaged ship timbers, with hand-hewn planks and centuries-old craftsmanship still visible today. Together, the house and cookhouse offer a rare glimpse into the ingenuity, resilience, and everyday life of early Key West.
Photo circa 1970Our garden features tropical and subtropical plants that thrive in Key West’s climate. As you stroll the paths, you’ll see palms and other tall greenery that frame the space, along with flowering shrubs like bougainvillea and frangipani that add splashes of color and a lovely scent.
Some plantings historically noted in the space include banana trees, coconut palms, Cuban trees, and oleander bushes, making the garden a showcase of island plant life tied to 19th-century Key West.
The native landscaping includes Spanish Lime Trees, Gumbo Limbo, Buttonwoods, and many different varieties of palm trees
Tom Majors Garden
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