Key West Heritage House presents a series of events inspired by the Great Depression through art, lectures, walking tours and the premiere of an oral history film documentary.

The series opens with “WPA Artists: Inspired by the Depression,” a special exhibit of recently restored Depression-era works created by WPA artists, as well as other local artists of the time. The exhibit opens to the public at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, followed by a 7:30 p.m. presentation by Key West historian Tom Hambright.

On Nov. 15, the Heritage House will launch the “Key West WPA Walking Tour,” the first in a series of tours to be offered every second Saturday through February. Lead by local history guides, the walking tour will lead participants on a journey through Old Town Key West to discover the works of WPA artists and the stories behind the art. The tours will commence at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, Nov. 15, Dec. 13, Jan. 10 and Feb 14 at Key West Heritage House, 410 Caroline St. The cost is $20. Tickets will be sold the morning of each tour.

On May 6, 1935, the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) was created to help provide economic relief to the citizens of the United States who were suffering through the Great Depression.  The Federal Art Project was one of the divisions of the W.P.A. It operated from August 29, 1935 until June 30, 1943. Reputed to have created more than 200,000 separate works.  FAP’s primary goals were to employ out-of-work artists and to provide art for non-federal government buildings: schools, hospitals, libraries and the like.

For more details, visit www.heritagehousemuseum.org