A topic that I’ve dwelled on in previous writing, both on this page and elsewhere (especially in my creative work), is whether people or places are the strongest vessels for what we considered “haunted” – rarely have I explored “things” as the source of such energy. Seems to have been an oversight on my part as the “cursed item,” such as a necklace or a mirror, are such keystones in horror and fiction. I simply haven’t come across such pieces or sought them out. Ignoring my Ouija board collection. But at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, I came face-to-face with “haunted” royalty, wandering a chill, brick corridor where a glass case holds something (or someone?) of legend: Robert the Doll.
Known as one of the most haunted objects in the world, Robert has become a must-see for anyone in love with the weird. As much as I dislike beaches and hot weather, Key West is somehow one of my favorite places in this great blue world of ours. I thought I had seen all of the whimsical and weird Key West had to offer in previous visits, but meeting Robert was something that I had somehow missed.
Robert’s story began in the early 1900s when he was given to a boy named Robert Eugene Otto—he went by “Gene.” The doll, dressed in a sailor suit, quickly became Gene’s constant companion. The boy loved the toy so much that he even gave the doll his own name, Robert.
What started as a playful friendship soon became… different.
Gene claimed Robert could talk and blamed him for strange incidents: objects
moving on their own, mischievous laughter coming from empty rooms, and a weird
aura that unsettled his family and visitors.
Even as an adult, Gene never parted with Robert. The doll had his own room in Gene’s house, complete with a chair by the window. After Gene’s passing, Robert changed hands a few times (even briefly belonging to the famous rock family, the Osbournes), leaving behind whispers of strange occurrences wherever he went, before finding a permanent home at the Fort East Martello Museum.
The Museum itself is gorgeous and storied, from its Civil War-era architecture to its unique exhibits featuring different aspects of Key West’s own history. But Robert is the star.
Surrounding him are letters from visitors who didn’t take
their encounter seriously. Stories of bad luck, illnesses, and accidents follow
those who mocked Robert or failed to show him respect. These letters are both a
warning and a testament to the doll’s reputation.
If you decide to meet Robert, there are a few rules to keep
in mind. Our pleasant and talkative host who welcomed us to the property made sure
to reiterate these “rules.” We told him that this “type of thing” really
interested us, and we were aware of Robert’s reputation. He smiled, nodded, and
reminded us to:
Be polite: it’s customary to greet Robert when you enter the
room.
Ask permission: if you want to take a photo, ask Robert
first. Some visitors claim this small gesture of respect can make all the
difference.
Don’t mock him: laughing at or ridiculing Robert has
allegedly led to unpleasant consequences.
Leave an offering: many visitors leave coins, candies, or small gifts as a sign of goodwill.
Meeting Robert is more than just a brush with the
paranormal. It is an opportunity to connect with a unique piece of Key West
history. Whether you believe in curses or not, Robert’s story offers a glimpse
into the power of belief and the mysteries we cannot always explain. There are
many out there who were staunch skeptics and found themselves scrambling to
contact the museum and its star attraction, begging for forgiveness. Some
visitors even write letters sending their well-wishes, only in appreciation and
not atonement, after having had visited.
Our host told his story about how he started working
part-time for the museum system on the Key as simply something to do in
retirement. He liked the work, maintaining gift shops and selling tickets to
the tours. He never believed in the paranormal and was only interested in
passing the time and enjoying the historic buildings. But he fell in love when he
was switched to the Fort… and became a believer.
I will leave it up to you to visit Robert and perhaps hear
our wonderful guide’s story for yourself. There's a good chance he'll be there, as he has begged management to take every available shift at the museum. But either way: a skeptical retiree looking to
earn some money became a true-blue believer in the weird, even keeping ghost
hunting apps and his cellphone ready at all times, to record evidence whenever
he feels Robert “waking up.”
You may not believe in such hauntings, and I constantly find
myself toeing the line between belief and skepticism, but there is an energy
out there convincing enough that a part-time employee of a Civil War-era fort
ensures that, every day, at the end of every shift, he checks in with a haunted
doll, addressing him and then saying goodbye, speaking to a silent personality that has
become larger than life… or perhaps more accurately, the afterlife.
That might be enough to convince me.
