West Martello Tower: where a hostile past has met a harmonious present
When you think of a fort, it’s not likely you think of beauty or Zen.
Probably because it’s hard to imagine that a place so inbuilt with a history of violence could ever become a peaceful retreat inspired by nature. But that’s exactly what the West Martello Tower in Key West has achieved.
The tower, built in the 1860’s, was used to house troops during the Spanish-American War and as a radio station and anti-aircraft battery on the beach during the World Wars. So when the Army released the property to the county in 1947, a few forward-thinking residents got to work and turned the site into the home of the Key West Garden Club.
And the rest is a history of lush beauty.
Fast-forward more than 60 years to present day when merely walking through the iron and brick entrance way invokes a feeling of serenity rather than hostility. With the ocean on one side and a flourishing garden all around, the tower has transformed from militant into magnificent. And all thanks to the efforts of generations of garden clubbers who have cleaned, cleared, planted and cared for the tropical landscape until it has become one of the most prized locations in Key West.
The tower, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is seamlessly sectioned off into areas where different types of foliage are grown and showcased. For instance, a large banyan tree takes center stage in the courtyard, a butterfly garden can be found off to one side and a Xeriscape garden off to another. Everything from cacti and aloe vera to orchids and bromeliads can be found inside the walls of the tower. And just to make sure you don’t miss the tranquility of it all, small ponds and gazebos are dispersed throughout as spots for visitors to relax and enjoy the flora while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s amusing to imagine what the soldiers who used to live here would think of the tower if they could see it now. Even the old powder magazines have been made useful again as storage for the club’s tools and records.
Free admission (donations are appreciated) makes the West Martello Tower one of the best values in Key West. And for a reasonable fee, the tower can be rented out for special events as well.
Posted by Christine Foster
