Mallory Square facts for kids
Mallory Square is a famous public space in Key West, Florida, in the United States. It's right on the water, next to where big cruise ships dock. This square is part of Key West's historic Old Town.
It sits at the western end of Duval Street, looking out over the Gulf of Mexico. The square runs along Wall Street. Nearby, you can find the Key West Shipwreck Historeum Museum and the Old Post Office and Customshouse.
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Sunset Celebration: A Daily Party
Mallory Square is famous for its "Sunset Celebration." This event is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Key West. Hundreds of people gather here every evening to watch the beautiful sunset.
The celebration starts two hours before the sun goes down, every single day of the year. You can find artists selling their crafts, street performers entertaining the crowd, and food carts offering tasty snacks. It's like a big, lively party that happens daily.
In 1984, a new pier was built right at Mallory Square. Some people worried this pier would stop the tradition of watching the sunset. To solve this, the city made a rule. It requires cruise ships to leave the port two hours before sunset. This way, everyone can still enjoy the view. Ships can return after sunset without paying extra fees.
Memorial Sculpture Garden: Honoring Key West Heroes
The Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden is located in Mallory Square. This special garden has bronze statues, called busts, of people who made a big difference in Key West.
There is a tall monument called "The Wreckers," which is 20 feet high. The garden also features 39 busts. These honor important figures like Ernest Hemingway, a famous writer, and Harry S. Truman, a former U.S. President. Other people honored include Henry Flagler, who helped build Florida's railways, and Tennessee Williams, another well-known writer. All these sculptures were created by an artist named James Mastin.
Images for kids
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Tourists and the Majesty of the Seas cruise ship
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A street performer entertaining the crowd
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A beautiful sunset over Mallory Square
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Bust of Sandy Cornish in the Memorial Sculpture Garden
See also
In Spanish: Mallory Square para niños
