Visited the famous Robert the Doll, located in key west. Fort East Martello Museum. Gene kept Robert the Doll with him until his passing in 1974. There’s an eerie toy doll on display at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, that many believe is either cursed by voodoo or inhabited by a ghostly spirit. East Martello Museum is located at 3501 South Roosevelt Boulevard at the old East Martello Fort and contains all kinds of artifacts and historical records of Florida Keys history. Cameras malfunction. Robert the Doll is an allegedly haunted doll exhibited at the East Martello Museum. Get up close and personal with the world’s most haunted doll in … Standing 40 inches tall and stuffed with wood wool known as excelsior, he is dressed in a sailor suit and once bore painted features not unlike those of a jester. People come from all over the world to see famed artist Gene Otto’s even more famous counterpart, Robert the Doll. Not only is this Civil War citadel a part of Key West's history itself, but it has also come to be the depository for a lot of the region's historical artifacts. According to legend, the doll has supernatural abilities that allow it to move, change its facial expressions, and make giggling sounds. Standing outside the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, I practiced what I would say: "Hi Robert, it’s nice to meet you. Legend says voodoo is perhaps one explanation for the mysterious misdeeds blamed on Robert the Doll. Robert, the doll is a nearly 120-year-old haunted doll in the guise of a young sailor currently residing in a glass case in the fort east martello museum in key west, Florida with a curse that many says follows visitors who take his photograph without permission. The Robert the Doll Experience is destination-based at Fort East Martello, 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd., with tours nightly starting at 8 p.m. Ninety percent of the experience takes place in the fort’s air-conditioned sections. The Fort East Martello Museum is home to the Robert the Doll aka, Robert the Haunted Doll. Shop Robert’s Online Store Take a journey through fascinating story of the infamous Robert the Doll! Fort East Martello Museum, 3501 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, Florida 33040, Ph: 305-296-3913 / Email: robert@robertthedoll.org. More than 42 spirits have been documented in Key West' haunted Fort East Martello Museum, including soldiers, slaves, and yellow fever victims. Robert the Doll - East Martello Museum. Lights flicker. He's said to be cursed and has been the inspiration behind Chucky from child's play. The doll took Robert as his name, while the boy simply went by ‘Gene’. Meeting Robert the Doll at Fort East Martello Museum - Duration: 14:11. East Martello Museum is site of a civil war era fort, established to combat piracy and shipping protection. Visitor beware, though, as Robert’s … Fort East Martello Museum, 3501 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, Florida 33040. Fort East Martello is an Art & Historical Museum open to the public. Home of Robert the Doll. Aesthetically, Robert resembles an early 20th-century American sailor. Cameras tend to stop working when pointed at the doll, only to resume normal function outside the … [4][5] After their deaths, the Eaton Street home containing the doll was sold to Myrtle Reuter, who owned it for 20 years[3] until the property was sold to the current owners, who operate it as a guest house.[4]. Today, Robert lives quite comfortably, though well guarded, in the Martello Museum. Stuffed with straw and meticulously hand sewn by a family servant, the doll was given to Robert Gene Otto as present. The doll's sailor suit was likely an outfit that Otto wore as a child. Today, visitors can explore the preserved battlement’s collection of relics from the Civil War, learn about the wrecking and cigar-manufacturing industries which shaped the Florida Keys, view the imaginative metal sculptures of Stanley Papio, as well as meet the Ghosts of … I knew I sounded like an idiot, but so did all the others who passed through Robert’s cavernous room at the Museum. Robert the Haunted Doll and Tombstone of Elena... http://www.phenomenalplace.comThe Fort East Martello Museum is famous for housing weird artifacts in Key West. Together they would go on to make history. Thank you." Some versions of the legend claim that a young girl of "Bahamian descent" gave Otto the doll as a gift or as "retaliation for a wrongdoing". His wife died two years later. The Snyds 600,073 views. V isitors can explore the preserved Civil War-era Fort and learn about the wrecking and cigar-manufacturing industries, view the imaginative metal sculptures of Stanley Papio, as well as meet infamous Robert the Doll.. We operate Monday to Saturday from 10:00am-4:00pm. The Robert the Doll Experience Ghost Tour is conducted by Robert the Doll author and researcher, David L. Sloan, in partnership with Key West Art & Historical Society, a non-profit organization. ‘Ello chaps! Robert is one-of-a-kind, handmade by the Steiff Company of Germany around the turn of the century. Officials at the Fort East Martello Museum, where Robert resides today, deduced that the doll was actually never intended to be a doll in the first place. [6][7] It is annually rotated to the Old Post Office and Customhouse in October. Robert the Doll has beady black eyes and an impish expression on his face, which is covered in nicks that look like scars. In 1994, the doll was donated to the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, where it eventually became a popular tourist attraction. Legend says voodoo is perhaps one explanation for … For more information about the Fort East Martello Museum or to purchase tickets, please visit their website . While East Martello Museum is ripe with history, it is Robert the Doll that lures guests to this location. While East Martello Museum is ripe with history, it is Robert the Doll that lures guests to this location. Letters of apology arrive on a daily basis. Otto married Annette Parker in Paris on May 3, 1930. The Fort East Martello Museum is home to one of America's most haunted objects: Robert the Doll. The doll originally belonged to Robert Eugene Otto, an artist described as "eccentric," who belonged to a prominent Key West family. The couple returned to the Otto family home in Key West to live there until Otto died in 1974. Ph: 305-296-3913 / Email: robert@robertthedoll.org Robert the Doll[1] is an allegedly haunted doll[2] exhibited at the East Martello Museum. Sources – The Hands Resist Him. Sources – Robert the Doll “A Boy & His Doll” (robertthedoll.org) Robert the Doll on Permanent Display at Fort East Martello (Key West Art & Historical Society) The Artist House – History – Robert the Doll. Take a journey through fascinating story of the infamous Robert the Doll. About Robert the Doll Experience Ghost Tour at Fort East Martello The Robert the Doll Experience ghost tour packs history, mystery, and paranormal exploration, into an intimate one-hour encounter. Robert the Doll. Hotels near Fort East Martello Museum: (0.24 mi) Hyatt Residence Club Key West, Windward Pointe (0.39 mi) Hampton Inn Key West (0.58 mi) 2 bedroom Condo Presented Key West Style (1.07 mi) Barbary Beach House Key West (0.57 mi) Sunrise Suites Resort; View all hotels near Fort East Martello Museum … East Martello Museum is site of a civil war era fort, established to combat piracy and shipping protection. Fort East Martello Museum: Roberto the Doll... - See 438 traveler reviews, 307 candid photos, and great deals for Key West, FL, at Tripadvisor. Sources – The Anguished Man. Fort East Martello Admission Tickets; Visit The Fort East Martello Museum; A History of Fort East Martello; From Fort to Museum; Robert the Doll Experience; Rental Inquiry; TENNESSEE WILLIAMS MUSEUM. The mission of The Key West Art & Historical Society is to preserve the culture of the Florida Keys through exhibiting and displaying regional art, architecture and history for the purpose of educating the community and visiting public. Robert the Doll now lives at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, where some believe his hair color and his soul are both slowly fading. Robert was once owned by Key West, Florida painter and author, Robert Eugene Otto. If you’ve ever seen a Child’s Play movie then you might already know that Robert was the inspiration behind the infamous character Chucky, minus the red hair and freckles, of course. 14:11. Fort East Martello Museum Address: 3501 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West,FL 33040, United States Fort East Martello Museum Contact Number: +1-3052963913 Fort East Martello Museum … Robert was once owned by Key West, Florida, painter and author Robert Eugene Otto. Ghost Tour, Ghost Hunts, private tours, and Paranormal Lockdowns are all led by acclaimed author and ghost hunter, David L. Sloan. Tennessee Williams Admission Tickets; Visit The Tennessee Williams Museum; Tennessee Williams Exhibit coming soon. Still other legends claim that the doll "vanished" after Otto's house changed ownership a number of times after his death,[5][8] or that young Otto triggered the doll's supernatural powers by blaming his childhood mishaps on the doll. The doll was reportedly manufactured by the Steiff Company of Germany, purchased by Otto's grandfather while on a trip to Germany in 1904, and given to young Otto as a birthday gift. Robert the Doll is over 100 years old and resides in a glass case at Fort East Martello Museum. Learn more on our Fort East Martello page. Haunted Robert The Doll - East Martello Museum. [3], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}24°33′09″N 81°45′18″W / 24.552389°N 81.754869°W / 24.552389; -81.754869, "Robert the Haunted Doll: Creeping Out Floridians Since 1904", "The Story Behind the World's Most Terrifying Haunted Doll", "Robert The Doll – Artist House Key West – Key West Guesthouse", "History of Fort East Martello – Key West Art and Historical Society", "Fort East Martello Museum (Key West, FL): Top Tips Before You Go (with Photos) – TripAdvisor", "Halloween Story The Legend of Robert the Doll", "TAPS hunts for things that go bump in the night", "Filmmaker Andrew Jones Talks Killer Dolls, Jurassic Terrors, and Nazi Werewolves", "Remote Controlled: Stars of Amazon's 'Lore' Discuss Horror Stories, What Scares Them", https://www.kwahs.org/exhibitions/robert-the-doll, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_(doll)&oldid=1002720613, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, The doll was exhibited at TapsCON, a convention hosted by, The doll and a replica doll sold at the gift shop at the Martello museum appeared in the second season of, The doll was featured in an episode of the podcast and TV series, This page was last edited on 25 January 2021, at 19:35. [1][3], The doll remained stored in the Otto family home at 534 Eaton Street in Key West while Otto studied art in New York and Paris. His unusual size indicates he may have been fashioned in the image of his constant companion – a boy named Robert Eugene Otto. Robert the Doll is over 100 years old and resides in a glass case at Fort East Martello Museum. FORT EAST MARTELLO MUSEUM. Other stories claim that the doll moved voodoo figurines around the room, and was "aware of what went on around him". Visitors are welcome to see him, though taking pictures has proven to be difficult. It includes collections of relics from the Civil War, displays detailing Key West's past, and artifacts like Robert the Doll. According to local folklore, the doll has caused "car accidents, broken bones, job loss, divorce and a cornucopia of other misfortunes", and museum visitors supposedly experience "post-visit misfortunes" for "failing to respect Robert". 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