Eduardo H. Gato House

The Eduardo H. Gato House is a wooden residential building on Virginia Street that combines Mission Revival design with a Cuban-style inner courtyard and wide verandas. The structure was built to provide both indoor and outdoor living spaces suited to the warm climate.

The house was built in 1890 during the height of Key West's cigar manufacturing boom. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, recognizing its importance to the town's architectural heritage.

The residence displays a blend of Victorian and Cuban architectural features that shows how different communities coexisted in Key West around 1900. The veranda and inner courtyard were gathering spaces where families and neighbors met, reflecting the way homes functioned in both American and Caribbean traditions.

The property is now a private residential complex that can be viewed from the street, with an educational historical marker at the front. Visitors can observe the exterior design and learn about its past through the informational plaque.

The owner Eduardo H. Gato was a Cuban immigrant who became a successful cigar merchant and part of Key West's wealthy tobacco trade community. His choice of location and design reflects how businessmen in this industry expressed their prosperity through their homes.

Location: Florida

Architectural style: Mission Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 24.55528,-81.79028

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:24