The Thompson Fish House, Turtle Cannery and Kraals is a historic site located at 200 Margaret Street,

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. On June 23, 1994, it was added to the

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

. The

kraal Kraal (also spelled ''craal'' or ''kraul'') is an Afrikaans and Dutch word, also used in South African English, for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within a Southern African settlement or village surrounded by a fence of th ...

s were fenced-in holding pens adjacent to the cannery in a sheltered bay at the north end of town, where turtles were kept awaiting slaughter. The once-fashionable turtle meat was canned and sold to cooks who used it largely to make

turtle soup Turtle soup, also known as Terrapin soup, is a soup or stew made from the meat of turtles. Differing versions of the soup exist in some cultures and are viewed as a delicacy. Versions China In China, and in several countries in Southeast Asi ...

. The valuable

Tortoiseshell Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced from the shells of the larger species of tortoise and turtle, mainly the hawksbill sea turtle, which is a critically endangered species according to the IUCN Red List largely because of its ...

was used to make many kinds of products made today from plastic. The building is owned by the City of Key West, and currently houses exhibits from the nearby

Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is located at 200 Greene Street, Key West, Florida. The museum contains an extensive collection of artifacts from 17th century shipwrecks, such as the ''Henrietta Marie'', ''Nuestra Señora de Atocha'' and '' Santa ...

. The Turtle Kraals Museum, which educated the public about dangers to sea turtles, was formerly located at this site.http://keysnews.com/node/13622 "New turtle museum may open in June", Keysnews.com, May 24, 2009

References

External links

Monroe County listings
a
National Register of Historic Places

Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
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Monroe County listings
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Turtle Kraals Museum
Buildings and structures in Key West, Florida Landmarks in Key West, Florida History of Key West, Florida National Register of Historic Places in Key West, Florida Tourist attractions in Key West, Florida 1918 establishments in Florida Buildings and structures completed in 1918 {{MonroeCountyFL-NRHP-stub