A rich past, filled with hard-work, adventure and arduous weather on the high seas—the Schooner Western Union Maritime Museum survived and thrived through many decades of service. Lovingly preserved and cared-for, this vintage ship is as beautiful and elegant today as she was when she was first launched on April 7, 1939.

Made of mahogany and yellow pine, the Schooner Western Union Maritime Museum is a marvelous example of a traditional American coasting schooner. For 35 years, the schooner served as a cable vessel for the Western Union Telegraph Company, repairing and maintaining undersea telegraph cable throughout Key West, Cuba and the Caribbean. After retiring from Western Union, the schooner was used as a charter boat and in various events celebrating the USA’s Bicentennial.

Today, the Schooner Western Union is being prepared to open as a maritime museum.  This working museum will be open to the public for sailing tours as well as dock tours.  The Schooner Western Union Maritime Museum will offer guests an unforgettable sail in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. Tours will include historical information about the schooner and its original purpose, the maritime lifestyle of its crew,  and the historical importance of the maritime economy to the Florida Keys.