Tennessee Williams Key West Exhibit Debuts New Museum Store
The Tennessee Williams Key West Exhibit, which recently merged with Key West Art & Historical Society, has reopened at 513 Truman Avenue as the Tennessee Williams Museum with newly added features that celebrate Williams’ literary legacy, including a museum store offering a carefully curated array of gifts, collectibles and memorabilia.
Dan Ayers-Price, Key West Art & Historical Society’s Director of Retail Operations and the Florida Chapter President of the Museum Store Association, spent four months designing the museum store area and sourcing unique merchandise with a literary twist to compliment the history of one of America’s greatest 20th-century playwrights while supporting the museum.
Visitors will find a wide selection of gifts, collectibles, books and companion accessories, a custom line of greeting cards, and a range of exclusive offerings.
“We have exclusive exotic wood and marble watches and wood-framed sunglasses, handmade art-glass desk accessories and sculptures, unique journals and notebooks (including waterproof versions), vintage art made from 100 year-old books, lamps with hand-dyed cocoa leaf shades, handcrafted book-page minders and unique bar accessories,” said Ayers-Price, who also directs museum stores located at the Custom House, Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters, and Fort East Martello Museums.
The Tennessee Williams Museum’s collection of historic, archival objects help keep alive the importance of Williams’ literary legacy and offers the largest collection of the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer’s memorabilia and literary artifacts available to the public. Displays include artist Jane Rohrschneider’s recently completed model of the playwright’s former home at 1431 Duncan Street where he lived from 1949 until his death in 1983, first edition plays and books, images from the late local photographer Don Pinder, and original steps from the film adaptation of Williams’ play “The Rose Tattoo” which was filmed entirely in Key West.
The Society also currently complements the Tennessee Williams Museum with a permanent display of Williams’ paintings at the Custom House Museum.
The Tennessee Williams Museum at 513 Truman Avenue is open from 9:30am-4:30pm daily. For more information, contact Key West Art & Historical Society at 305-295-6616 or visit WWW.KWAHS.ORG. Your Museums. Your Community. It Takes an Island.