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The two-story house was built in 1851 of native limestone in a Spanish colonial style by noted marine salvager Asa Tift. Pfeiffer’s wealthy uncle bought the then-derelict house as a wedding present for her and Hemingway in 1931, and the couple had the entire interior restored. The second story of the coach house in the back was made into a writing studio for Hemingway. The swimming pool, built in 1938 as a present from Pfeiffer to her husband, was the first residential swimming pool built in Key West. The coach house became a pool house, and Hemingway had walls built around the grounds. He also installed a catwalk that allowed him to walk from the bedroom to his studio in the pool house.
Personal Artifacts & Photographs
In addition, the house and grounds are occupied by dozens of six-toed cats that are said to be descended from a cat that Hemingway owned. Ernest Hemingway was given a white six-toed cat by a ship’s captain and some of the cats who live on the museum grounds are descendants of that original cat, named Snow White. Key West is a small island and it is possible that many of the cats on the island are related. The Community Library became the custodian of the Hemingway House and Preserve in May 2017, following the 30-year ownership of the House by The Nature Conservancy. The change marked a new approach to the preservation and promotion of the iconic writer's legacy in the American West, and by a library whose own history is intertwined with Hemingway's. Surrounded by the lush tropical gardens of Key West, the Hemingway House exudes a captivating charm and beauty that perfectly complements Hemingway’s love for nature and the outdoors.
The Historic Ernest and Mary Hemingway House
Immerse yourself in the world of one of the greatest literary icons of all time and discover the inspiring legacy of Ernest Hemingway. The house was actually a gift to the newlywed couple from Pauline’s rich uncle, Gus, who purchased the estate in 1931. The home was in disrepair when the Hemingways took ownership, but both Ernest and Pauline could see beyond the rubble and ruin and appreciated the grand architecture and stateliness of the home. Constructed from native rock, the house was built in the Spanish Colonial style in 1851. The massive restoration and remodeling they undertook in the early 1930s turned the home into the National Historical Landmark that thousands of tourists visit and enjoy today. The personal library collection of Ernest Hemingway contains books that influenced and reflected his interests, both as a reader and a writer.
Visiting the Hemingway House in Key West
The cats roam freely throughout the property, lounging in the gardens, and occasionally making appearances in the house itself. Visitors often find themselves captivated by the stories and legends surrounding the Hemingway Cats. From tales of their polydactyl genetics to their presence in Hemingway’s personal life and works, these feline companions add an enchanting element to the overall experience of the Hemingway House. Whether you’re a cat lover or simply appreciate the historical significance of these unique animals, the Hemingway Cats are sure to leave a lasting impression.
He immortalized his favorite haunts and drinking buddies through his writing, most famously in 1937’s To Have and Have Not, a Key West-set novel inspired by a group of local black-market smugglers. His hard-partying ways even came home with him, quite literally, in the form of a urinal, drunkenly carried home from Sloppy Joe’s Bar and installed in his backyard, which is still working as a water fountain today. Hemingway also built a boxing ring on the property, allowing the self-styled pugilist a place to spar.
Hemingway’s literary contributions included a distinctive style characterized by understated dialogue and a focus on stoic, masculine characters. His contributions to literature include classics like A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Likely fueled by alcohol, Hemingway ripped out the bar’s urinal and brought it home to use as a watering trough for his cats. The second fountain is a Hemingway-era one, and comes with a humorous story.
The Writing Experience
Pauline, outraged by the unsightly bathroom fixture prominently displayed in the garden, glued tiles around its edge and added an antique urn to create a fountain. Each new relationship seemed to lead to a change of location, explaining why Hemingway left Key West after less than a decade despite having several productive years there. JL stopped us for a bit at what she called the “Wall of Wives” to talk about Hemingway’s four marriages.
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Around the property
Hemingway’s impact on literature is immeasurable, and the Hemingway House Museum plays a vital role in preserving his legacy. By showcasing the author’s personal belongings, manuscripts, and photographs, the museum allows visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Hemingway’s life and works. It’s a chance to appreciate the dedication, discipline, and raw talent that made Hemingway one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Located in the converted second story of the carriage house, this studio was where Hemingway penned some of his most beloved works.
A Brief History Of The Ernest Hemingway House In Key West
The Hemingway pool—the only one within 100 miles in the 1930s—was truly an architectural feat. Mary was able to return to Finca Vigia to retrieve some of Hemingway’s belongings, but the house itself soon fell into disrepair. It was partially restored and reopened to the public in 2007, and it, along with his Key West home, stand almost frozen in time, testaments to Hemingway’s dramatic and eventful life. Since taking over the management of the house and legacy, the Library undertook a needed series of restoration measures on the exterior and interior in order to protect the 1953 house and its contents. Whether you’re a fan of Hemingway’s masterpieces or simply appreciate the charm of a bygone era, a visit to the Hemingway House Key West is bound to transport you into the captivating world of this literary genius.
Whether your tour guide looks like Ernest Hemingway or not, you will learn a lot about the great writer, his wives, his time in Cuba, and so much more. Hemingway and his wife left Cuba in 1960, following Fidel Castro’s overthrow of the Batista government (although the left-leaning Hemingway’s sympathies were with the revolutionaries). In ill health and increasingly suffering from the depression that ran through his family, and which he had struggled against all his life, Hemingway settled in Idaho.
For the last two decades of his life, Hemingway would spend his winters at Finca Vigia, eventually joined by his fourth and final wife, Mary. His Cuban home became a pilgrimage of sorts, as admirers, friends and fans from Hollywood, society and the literary world flocked to his doorstep. As in Key West, Hemingway happily held court, in a home filled with mementos and items that the notorious pack-rat refused to throw out, and surrounded by a gaggle of cats.
The house is filled with artifacts from Hemingway’s life, including old photographs, letters, books, furniture, and even the typewriter he used to write some of his most famous works. The Ernest Hemingway House was the residence of American writer Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. It is at 907 Whitehead Street, across from the Key West Lighthouse, close to the southern coast of the island. Due to its association with Hemingway, the property is the most popular tourist attraction in Key West. It is also famous for its large population of so-called Hemingway cats, many of which are polydactyl. Known for titles such as The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms, American novelist and avid outdoorsman, Ernest Hemingway, visited Sun Valley frequently.
Hemingway’s home was originally built in 1851 by Asa Tift, a former naval architect and sea captain from Groton, Connecticut. Tift owned several stores in Key West, along with ships and a large salvaging operation, making him one of the wealthiest men in the area at the time. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is located at 907 Whitehead Street, close to the Key West Lighthouse and Museum. Mr. SBC and I visited the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum on a cruise stop in Key West, and it was only a 20-minute walk from the pier.
They moved to Paris where he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star[1] and fell under the influence of the modernist writers and artists of the 1920s' "Lost Generation" expatriate community. To fully immerse yourself in the Hemingway experience, it is highly recommended to take a guided tour of the house and museum. Guided tours provide valuable insights about Hemingway’s life, writing process, and the significance of the Hemingway House.
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