Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
For 16 years, Mel Fisher searched for a Spanish galleon that sank in 1622 with $400 million in gold and silver. He found it. The treasure is in Key West.
The Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in September 1622, carrying an estimated $400 million in gold, silver, and emeralds. Mel Fisher spent 16 years searching for it, sustained by his daily greeting to his crew: 'Today's the day.' On July 20, 1985, his son Kane radioed in: 'It's here. We've found the main pile.' The find was the richest treasure recovery in history.
The Atocha's 'mother lode' contained 40 tons of gold and silver, 100,000 Spanish silver coins, 700 silver bars, and 500 pounds of emeralds. Fisher's son Dirk and daughter-in-law Angel died in a diving accident during the search. Fisher kept searching.
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West houses a substantial portion of the recovered treasure — gold chains, silver bars, emerald crosses, and coins you can actually touch. The museum also documents the 16-year search and the legal battles Fisher fought with the state of Florida and the federal government over salvage rights. He won both. The story is extraordinary, and the objects are real.
Located at 200 Greene St, Key West. Open daily. Admission charged. The ground floor has the most impressive pieces — the gold bar display and the emerald cross are the highlights. The museum also sells certified Atocha coins and artifacts; prices start around $25 for a small silver coin. Allow at least 90 minutes.