About the Hemingway Museum in Key West: A Cultural Heritage Spotlight

Table Of Content

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• Gardens and Landscaping
• Clowning for Novices: History and Practice With Rose Carver
• Q: Are the cats at the Hemingway House descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s cat?
• The electronic OR print edition of The Florida Historical Quarterly, our award winning journal.
• Museum Hours:
• Looe Key Sanctuary Preservation Area Florida Keys

Known for his short sentences, multiple wives, and six-toed cats, the famed American novelist was a member of the “Lost Generation”, a term coined by fellow writer Gertrude Stein. Pilar was docked at Cojimar, a small fishing village east of Havana, which was the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. The finished yacht cost $7500 and was brought to Key West and christened Pilar.

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The second fountain is a Hemingway-era one, and comes with a humorous story. When Joe Russell, Hemingway’s buddy and the owner of Sloppy Joe’s moved his establishment, he enlisted the help of his patrons to transport the contents of the bar to its new location. The Hemingway property has two notable fountains with interesting histories.

Gardens and Landscaping

In the Hemingway kitchen, deep red Spanish-style tiles contrast against faded peach-colored cabinets and off-white walls. The electronic edition of The Florida Historical Quarterly, our award winning journal. Hemingway was so angry about the cost of the pool that he threw a penny at Pauline, telling her that she might as well take his last cent. The paintings, chandeliers, and other architectural details, which have been immaculately preserved over the years, foster a sense that time has magically stood still at the Hemingway house. Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Clowning for Novices: History and Practice With Rose Carver

Hemingway lived in the home with his wife and their two sons from 1931 until 1939. When Hemingway left for Cuba in 1939 to pursue another relationship, Pauline stayed in the home and lived there until her death in 1951. But its charm caught the eye of Ernest and Pauline Hemingway when they visited Key West in 1928, the year after their marriage. When Pauline saw that the property would be auctioned in 1931, her uncle Gus purchased the home for $8000 and gave it to the couple as a belated wedding gift.

Dubbed the “Lost Generation,” they wrote, painted and composed by day, and drank, debated and caroused the City of Lights by night. 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. You can purchase tickets on-site or in advance, allowing you to explore at your own pace and gain a deeper understanding of Hemingway’s legacy.

Ernest Hemingway's Key West home looks saturated after Hurricane Ian - Daily Mail

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The museum grounds also feature a cat cemetery, where many of the property’s former feline residents rest. This area serves as a testament to the close-knit nature of the home’s community of cats and the care afforded to them over the years. It also acts as a historical record, with many of the tombstones dating back decades, inscribed with the names of these beloved pets, marking their place in the legacy of the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. Hemingway’s first cat, Snowball, was a polydactyl cat with six toes on her front paws and five toes on her back. At times as many as 30 cats descended from Snowball had the run of the place. Descendants of Snowball descendants, at least 50 or so, have the run of the place now – those weird, six-toed cats that are a favorite of tourists.

The Hemingway House stands as a testament to the rich history of Key West and the cultural impact of one of America’s greatest literary figures. All FHS Members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting and Symposium. All FHS Members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books and Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting and Symposium. All FHS members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting & Symposium. All FHS members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at our Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting & Symposium.

11 Facts About Hemingway's Cats - Mentalfloss

11 Facts About Hemingway's Cats.

Posted: Wed, 10 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Looe Key Sanctuary Preservation Area Florida Keys

Charles Thompson introduced Hemingway to the exciting world of big game sport fishing, and a long friendship was born. Charles and his wife Lorine entertained the Hemingways at their home on Fleming Street. Lorine Thompson proved to be as friendly and gracious as her husband Charles, and it was during those early days in Key West she and Pauline forged a friendship that would endure for the rest of their lives. Both Ernest and Pauline grew to love Key West and its inhabitants, and soon decided to look for a permanent residence.

Visiting the Hemingway House in Key West

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The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, a treasured National Historic Landmark located on Whitehead Street in Key West, Florida, offers visitors a rich architectural and horticultural experience. This section elaborates on the distinctive Spanish Colonial style of the residence, the meticulously tended gardens, the notable in-ground pool, and the layout of the outbuildings that complement the property. The experience covers 2 people who will have a guided tour and exclusive access to the writing studio where Hemingway wrote many of his greatest works. While visiting the Hemingway home, guests are likely to spot some of the polydactyl cats that have lived there since Ernest’s time. Captain Harold Stanley Dexter sailed to Key West with his white six-toed cat, Snowball. After Snowball had a litter of kittens, the captain gifted Hemingway with one whom he named Snow White.

Because the car had been delayed in transit, the Ford dealership insisted that they take up residence in an apartment located above the showroom on Simonton Street. Ernest and Pauline accepted the offer, and he resumed work on a war story he had started on the ocean passage to Key West. Hemingway continued his Paris habits of writing during the early mornings, and taking time to explore his surroundings in the afternoons.

Hemingway was known for his disciplined writing routine, dedicating each morning to his craft. This room became his refuge, a place where he could focus his thoughts and immerse himself in his storytelling. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is designed to still look and feel like Hemingway’s residence, as well as a museum.