from the KEY WEST ART & HISTORICAL SOCIETY 281 FRONT STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 295-6616 Fax: 295-6649
Attention: News editors, news directors, features editors and programming directors. Please use the following item as a news story, public service announcement or community event. Pix available. For immediate release Nov. 2, 2004.
In honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, admission to the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House will be free to all American veterans and active duty military personnel and only half price to the general public. "It's a great time to come in to see the historically significant Custom House, which has been architecturally restored to its turn-of-the-century grandeur in the heart of Key West," explained Claudia Pennington, executive director of the Key West Art & Historical Society, which operates the landmark building. Each visitor gets a Heart of Key West pin and will be provided the free use of an audio headset to guide them through the building. The 113-year-old, three-story redbrick structure served as the seat of the island's legal, military, commercial and postal activities during the city's heyday. "Most people have seen the exterior of the Custom House, which is difficult to miss, and many have been to some of our exhibits," said Pennington, "but Veteran's Day is an excellent holiday for adults and children to check out the architecture of building as well as what is inside. The headsets providing the audio tour give a very good explanation of the history of the Custom House, which was completed in 1891, complete with period music and sound effects. The tour was made possible through the generous support of the Dogwood Foundation. Veteran's Day visitors also will be able to see the world renown Ernest Hemingway & Walker Evans, Cuba 1933 exhibition and current exhibits of photographs by Lynne Bentley Kemp and artwork from Jo Cooper. "But primarily we'd like people to appreciate the Custom House structure itself, which is based on the designs of Henry Hobson Richardson, the most famous architect of his era. The building incorporates many of Richardson's conceits, such as huge two-story windows, carved moldings, high ceilings and Romanesque styling," Pennington said. The, nine-year, $9 million restoration of the Custom House-completed five years ago- was possible because of generous contributions from Key West citizens, institutions, businesses and grants from local, state and national funding agencies. "Historically, the Custom House was the beating heart of Key West, and it continues to pump life blood into the island's culture," Pennington said. "It is a vital, living tradition of the Florida Keys."
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