The San Carlos Institute is a museum, school, library, art gallery, theater, and conference center dedicated to the history and preservation of the Cuban culture in the Florida Keys. It was founded in 1871 by exiles from Cuba who wanted to preserve their language and heritage. Jose Marti, famous poet, nicknamed the Institute La Casa Cuba, and indeed it was a home to exiled Cubans, and it served to unite and inspire them for decades. The Institute built this site in 1924 and served the Cuban community of Key West well into the 1970's. By then the building was crumbling, and the Hispanic Affairs Commission restored it to its current state.

It's open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11am to 5pm, and it's free.