Mel Fisher Museum - Key West's Mel Fisher Museum pays homage to a man who dedicated his life to finding sunken treasure and found just off Key West's coastline. The Atocha wreck site produced one of the biggest treasure hauls ever found and the story of Mel Fisher and his discovery is played out in Key West at the Mel Fisher Museum. The Atocha was a Spanish galleon from the 1600s that sank full of gold, silver and precious jewels and coins. Mel Fisher searched for years and his story of finding the Atocha has been covered by national magazines like National Geographic and TV media like the History Channel. Treasure from the wreck is on display at the Mel Fisher Museum, where you can also learn about the dramatic saga of the discovery of the Atocha.
Mel Fisher and his wife were accomplished divers even when scuba was almost an unknown activity. They found wrecks before embarking on the Atocha mission. Mel and his crew, which included members of his family, searched for years and spent lots of money looking for the main wreck site of the Atocha. Mel's optimism kept everyone going, even through hard times when the mission was losing money, dive crew members suffered fatal accidents, and nobody believed in the mission anymore. His famous phrase, "Today's the Day!" kept hope alive through these tough times. He supposedly said it every day.
Finally one day in 1982 today was the day and the crew found the Atocha. In the Mel Fisher Museum you will see a picture taken on the famous day, showing a beaming Mel Fisher and crew. This was the picture that adorned the covers of several magazines that year so you may recognize it. No wonder they were so happy: they eventually found over 40 tons of silver bars and loads of jewel-encrusted rings, bracelets and necklaces. Then there were also hundreds of Spanish coins, including cob coins which are precious to colletors. You are able to purcahse replicas at the Mel Fisher Museum gift shop on the first floor in the back of the museum. |
