Fort East Martello Museum – Home of Robert the Doll

Built during the American Civil War, Fort East Martello Museum was originally designed as a coastal defense fort but never saw battle. Today, it serves as a museum showcasing Key West’s history, but its most famous exhibit is Robert the Doll, a disturbing figure at the center of countless paranormal legends.

Robert originally belonged to a boy named Robert Eugene Otto in the early 1900s. According to legend, the doll was given to Otto by a vengeful servant skilled in voodoo. Strange occurrences began almost immediately—neighbors saw the doll move on its own, furniture was found overturned, and Otto insisted the doll was responsible. Even after Otto’s death, Robert’s eerie presence continued to terrify new owners, leading to his placement in the museum.

Visitors to the museum are warned to ask Robert’s permission before taking a photo, as many who have ignored this rule claim to have suffered misfortunes afterward. To this day, the museum receives letters apologizing to Robert, begging for his forgiveness.

Chucky from the Child's Play movies is inspired by Robert the Doll. There is also a horror film franchise loosely based on the legend began with the film Robert, released in 2015. To date, four sequels have followed: The Curse of Robert the Doll in 2016, The Toymaker in 2017, The Legend of Robert the Doll in 2018,[14] and Robert Reborn in 2019.