Hemingway loved cats, and thanks to years of breeding, the property around the house is crawling with adorable six-toed felines. While tours are included in the admission price, I decided instead to wander through on my own. 907 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040, USA, How to Earn, Redeem, and Maximize Marriott Bonvoy Points, The Thoughtful Traveler’s Guide to Indigenous Tourism, All Travelers to U.S. Will Need to Quarantine and Show Negative COVID Test Result, Warm Your Winter With These 11 Hot Cocktails From Around the World. Visitors to Key West are keen on seeing the house where Ernest Hemingway, one of America’s most respected novelists, lived and wrote for nine years. It is at 907 Whitehead Street, across from the Key West Lighthouse, close to the southern coast of the island. After Bernice’s death in the late 1980’s, the estate was passed onto her family who have kept the property open to visitors wanting to learn about the life of Ernest Hemingway. I think that had a lot to do with the amount of people that were there. Located at 907 … The Ernest Hemingway House was the residence of American writer Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. Pauline’s parents, Paul and Mary Pfeiffer, were prominent citizens of Northeast Arkansas and owned more than 60,000 acres of land. He was known to say that the Key West atmosphere helped him write. I may have left the Hemingway house thinking, “that was okay” but I bet someone who is a fan of Ernest Hemingway would connect more with the place. In 1951, Pauline (now his ex-wife) died leaving the house vacant, apart from the caretaker that lived on the property. The Hemingway House & Museum is a major tourist destination. He purchased the property, which by then had been boarded up and abandoned, for $8,000 in back taxes owed to the city. Purchases made through links may earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum is located on Whitehead Street, near the southernmost point of Key West, less than a 10-minute drive from the airport. Hemingway’s boys named their new kitten Snow White and as Hemingway once wrote, “one cat just leads to another”. There is something for everyone on this fascinating tour. Technically, they are called polydactyl cats, but informally everyone knows them by their real name—Hemingway cats. We describe our travel style as "laid back luxe" and enjoy a mix of outdoor adventures and historic sites. The museum welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world and looks forward to … My initial interest in visiting the Hemingway Home was not because I’m a Hemingway fan (I’ve never read anything written by him), but because I love old architecture. Writers have always loved the Keys, none more famous than Ernest Hemingway, who bought a beautiful Spanish colonial home at 907 Whitehead Street in 1931 and stayed eight years. The beautiful gardens provide the ideal setting for weddings and events. Little ones are just as welcome as their parents at this museum.The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum's patrons can find places to park in the area. If you're looking to spice up your weekends, give The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum … After the tour, make your way to the museum and bookstore for Hemingway keepsakes, books, and novelty items on sale. I’d like to thank the Key West Attractions Association for providing me with a complimentary visit to the Hemingway Home and Museum. Still, I’m glad I visited since it’s such a notable property in Key West. The gardens create an intimate atmosphere for all types of events. He spared no expense in rebuilding the home and added a swimming pool in 1937 which was the first in-ground pool in Key West and the only one around for 100 miles. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. Hemingway wrote some of his best works here, including the classics "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," "To Have and Have Not," and "Green Hills of Africa." Key West’s most famous literary resident, Ernest Hemingway, lived in this two-story Spanish-colonial villa for nearly a decade and composed several of his best-known works here. A cruise ship was in town that day, so there was a constant flow of visitors through the house. As always, I tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Visit the book store and pick up a Hemingway novel. The museum is the home of over fifty cats; some of which have six toes. Ernest Hemingway penned most of his greatest work while residing in this tranquil environment. While in Key West, he wrote many of his famous novels. On November 24, 1968, it was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott, Arkansas includes a barn studio associated with Ernest Hemingway and the family home of his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. Please confirm directly with service providers. Visiting Hemingway's Key West home and museum was high on my list of things to do when our cruise ship stopped and we were not disappointed. Please consider booking your Key West accommodations through the included link. The estate didn’t become Hemingway’s home until 1931. Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West for more than 10 years. Yes, its always buzzing with tourists but try to see how many of the famous polydactyl cats you can find. Key West is not only a place for laid-back island living, but it's also filled with history. Due to its association with Hemingway, the property is the most popular tourist attraction in Key West. The Hemingway Home & Museum is a very popular attraction in Key West, especially if you are a writer. It costs you nothing extra and helps support this website. Hemingway wrote in the early mornings and poked around town in the afternoon—unless he was fishing. Admission Price: Admission is $16 for adults and $6.00 for children (5 and under are free). More Tips: If arriving on bicycle, there is a bike rack on the property, just beyond the ticket booth, where you can lock it up. Hemingway collected 17th and 18th century furniture from Spain and his wife Pauline installed chandeliers she collected while living in Paris. Cost for adults is around $13. The Ernest Hemingway House was the residence of author Ernest Hemingway in Key West, Florida, United States. I didn’t know there was going to be cats everywhere, so this was a pleasant surprise! The museum is open daily, and the admission fee includes a guided tour. And yes, you’re guaranteed to see plenty of six-toed cats, descendants of Hemingway’s original six-toed cat, Snow White. The Hemingway Home Book Store and Gift Shop offers a full array of Ernest Hemingway’s novels, poems, short stories and biographies, as well as various publications related to Key West, home to Hemingway from 1931 to 1939. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum invites you to hold your Key West wedding or other special event in the famous property's beautifully landscaped gardens. Experience a step back in time with a guided tour of his estate or a leisurely browse through the tropical gardens where one of America's greatest authors created a unique legacy. The author and his friends would go big game sport fishing in his custom yacht, Pilar, for giant tuna and marlin around Bimini and Cuba. A visit to Ernest Hemingway's tropical hideaway is a Key West must for a reason. Built in 1851, the two-story home with its decorated wraparound balconies is where the Nobel Prize winner lived and wrote some of his best works. The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum illustrates. As I was reading the plaque in the cemetery, I noticed that many of the cats were named after famous people. Although Hemingway spent his first few years in Key West at the Casa Antigua on Simonton Street, the house in which he spent most of his Conch tenure was the iconic Spanish colonial at 907 Whitehead, better known as the Hemingway Home and Museum. Did you know that over 50 cats reside on the property, many of which have six toes on their front paws? Had they been gone, the house would have lost its historic ambiance. There are many personal pictures and art from Hemingway’s collection on display and some of the Hemingway family’s furnishings are still in the house. Art Museum Pages Non-Business Places Landmark & Historical Place Hemingway Home Museum Videos Hemingway Home Museum was live. For the next ten years, Hemingway used the house as a place to stay during his trips between Cuba and his home in Ketchum, Idaho. Unfortunately, cats do not live forever, but you can pay your respects at the Cat Cemetery behind the house. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: 2020 Top Things to Do in Key West. When Hemingway died in 1961, his sons agreed to sell the estate. by booking through the sites we use and love! Step back in time with a guided tour of the home and gardens. The Ernest Hemingway house is an iconic landmark in Key West, and not just because of the house's famous resident. Visit the descendants of his legendary cats. To make the most of the experience, it's … Hemingway Home and Museum – Explore the tranquil environment where one of America’s foremost authors and Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Hemingway, penned many of his most notable works. There were little imperfections throughout the house like cracks in the ceiling and chips in the walls. Yes Please! To this day, many of the cats that live at Hemingway Home are descendants of the original Snow White. 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