Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Island Welcome Center (Tift & Co.) Shell Warehouse (Ice House)

Waterfront Playhouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. Waterfront Playhouse Marker

Inscription. Dating from the 1840s, the two buildings in the foreground of the photograph are the oldest commercial structures on the island. This photograph was taken from Tift's Tower (modern day Waterfront Playhouse); it shows the rear view of the buildings. They were built of native stone for Tift & Company which was owned by Amos Tift.

The building on the left (new Island Welcome Center) was used as a ship chandlery—a maritime supply store. It also served as the island's post office from 1947 to the Civil War.

In the adjacent building (today's Shell Warehouse) Asa and Charles Tift (sons of Amos) sold ice which had been cut in New England and brought here by sailing ships. The very thick wall of the ice house helped keep ice from melting immediately. In addition to preserving food, the ice was important for cooling the victims of typhoid and yellow fever in the 19th century

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.

Location. 24° 33.568′ N, 81° 48.415′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. Marker is at the intersection of Wall Street and Tift’s Aly, on the right when traveling south on Wall Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Wall St, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker. The Conch Republic (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Conch Republic (a few steps from this marker); Wreckers (a few steps from this marker); "The Wreckers" (a few steps from this marker); Marco Golan (a few steps from this marker); Asa F. Tift (a few steps from this marker); Mel Fisher and 1622 Fleet Shipwreck Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Tennessee Williams (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . . Waterfront Playhouse Theater. (Submitted on June 7, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 6, 2023

2. Waterfront Playhouse Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.