Known for its raucous bars, wild parades and people watching, Duval Street is the most recognized street in the Florida Keys and is also a prime destination point for anyone heading down to Key West. 

Nicknamed “the longest street in the world” because it runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, Duval Street is home to dozens of iconic bars and restaurants including Sloppy Joe’s, the Bull & Whistle, The Chart Room, La Te Da and many more. 

But the historical importance of Duval Street extends well beyond its bars and restaurants. This hip strip is also a bastion for architectural gems like St. Paul’s Church, the Strand Theater, the San Carlos Institute and the Southernmost House. A virtual living monument, Duval Street pays homage to the people, the buildings and the events that shaped Key West’s story. So it’s not at all surprising that the real pulse of the island, both historically and presently, beats from this particular street.

And that brings us to the Key West Art & Historical Society which is now running “The History of Duval Street: The Longest Street in the World.” Curated by Cori Convertito, the exhibition celebrates the island’s main thoroughfare and showcases images, objects and artwork dating back to the nineteenth century.

A few of the remarkable items that you can see on display include a silk menu from a luncheon held at the Russell Hotel in honor of Ulysses S. Grant’s visit to the island in 1880; intaglios (word carvings) illustrating several Duval Street buildings created by famed Cuban-American artist Mario Sanchez whose work appears in Washington DC’s Smithsonian Museum and at Key West’s highly acclaimed Gallery On Greene; and a100-foot section of the “Sea to Sea” Rainbow Flag that was spread 1.25 miles from the Gulf to the Atlantic in 2003.

This terrific exhibition is open daily and runs through August in the Bryan Gallery at the Custom House Museum, 281 Front Street, Key West. Info: 305-295-6616; www.kwahs.org/exhibitions.

Catch it if you can!