Support the collection
Donate to our collections
Photographs, postcards, paintings, maps, artifacts, books, periodicals, and more — gifts from our community are how the Center's permanent collection has grown, and how it keeps growing.
Donating objects to the Center
The Florida Keys History & Discovery Center appreciates the generous donations and gifts of individual contributors — they make our collection a valuable resource for our community. We are always willing to consider donations that enhance the collection, and we ask that you help us by following a few procedures that make the donation process go smoothly. Please do not bring items to the Center without first checking to make sure we are interested.
Start the conversation
Please do not drop off or mail objects without first contacting us. We want to make sure your potential contribution is properly identified and cared for, and that you receive a formal acknowledgment of receipt.
Our Curator of Collections will reach out shortly about your item.
Email our curator →or call (305) 922-2237
What happens after acquisition
When the Center accepts new objects into its collection, we strive to make them accessible to the public in one or more of these ways:
- Placed on display within an existing exhibit
- Loaned for exhibition to another museum
- Used in educational or community programming
- Made available to researchers
- Digitized and made available online through our website
While we value all contributions to Keys history, we cannot guarantee donated items will go on display. We retain the right to manage the items in the best interest of the museum, including transfer, sale, or deaccession.
What kinds of items do we collect?
Artifacts and objects, audio recordings and oral histories, books, photographs, maps, architectural drawings and records, manuscripts, scrapbooks, and other printed material — postcards, menus, tickets, advertisements, periodicals, and more. If you are not sure whether your item fits, ask us; unusual pieces of Keys life often turn out to be the most interesting.
Looking to support the collection financially instead? Make a gift to the Center.
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Become a member
Memberships begin at $75 and help conserve the Keys, inspire discovery, and keep our community engaged.
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Make a gift
Annual giving begins at $500 and sustains dynamic exhibits, innovative programs, community events, and the Keys Heritage Ledger.