Located just off of Mallory Square, the historic Custom House was built in 1891 at the height of Key West’s maritime industry as the original customs building, postal service, and district courts. During the Spanish-American War, the Custom House played a central role in the U.S. Navy’s inquiry into the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, which led to America formally declaring war on Spain. In 1932, the building became the property of the U.S. Navy and official headquarters for their Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis….
