Have you ever heard of the Hemingway House? It’s where Ernest Hemingway lived for eight years in Key West. Writers absolutely love this area because of its tranquility, and we were lucky enough to go to the spot where such a famous man penned so many stories.
Personally, we loved walking around the tropical gardens, imagining the tormented writer sitting and reading a manuscript. However, the tour also allows us to enter the home to view photos that celebrate Hemingway’s fishing conquests.
There’s nothing better than seeing Hemingway’s writing studio, but we also stand on the veranda to gaze at the swimming pool, which was the first in the city.
Cats in the Ernest Hemingway Home
While you’re visiting the house, you’ll likely see the “Hemingway cats” by the in-ground pool. He loved these furry creatures.
Traditionally, cats have five toes on the front paws and four in the back. However, Hemingway liked the idea of being different in all he did.
Therefore, Hemingway’s first feline friend was a white, six-toed cat that was given to him as a gift by a sea captain. At least, that’s what the legend says. This snow-white ball of fluff was called Snowball.
Snowball had six toes on the front paws, with five on the back ones. She was highly fertile, and there were always anywhere from 10 to 30 cats running around because of her.
Descendants of Snowball now have the run of the place, so there are plenty of six-toed cats around.
While casual fans are fascinated by the odd cats, they focus more on the declarative sentences Hemingway used to pack an emotional punch. He typically had fights with other writers, and the man enjoyed going to Sloppy Joe’s, which is now Captain Tony’s Saloon. Even with a hangover, he was up early for his job.
How the Hemingway Home Came to Be
The two-story house was actually built in 1851, but it fell into disrepair. Hemingway’s first wife, Pauline, recognized its potential and fell in love. Therefore, she asked her wealthy Uncle Gus to buy it for them as a wedding present. At about $8,000, it was an elaborate gift; the man couldn’t tell his niece no, so that’s what they received.
In the Key West house, Hemingway finished his World War I book, “A Farewell to Arms.” He also wrote “Death in the Afternoon,” which was about bullfighting. There were many other novels completed in this home, but things finally came to an end.
Why Hemingway Left Key West, Florida
By 1939, Hemingway was tired of Key West. It was becoming a tourist town, and those people bothered him by knocking on the door and distracting him from writing. Well, that’s what he told everyone. The truth was highly complicated. Ultimately, he had a girlfriend, which his wife learned about; this ended their marriage.
Hemingway’s Life After Key West
After their divorce, the American writer turned his girlfriend into his second wife. She was a war correspondent, so they traveled the world together. However, they finally got tired of each other and broke up the marriage.
He finally found the perfect woman. This lady loved the outdoors and could shoot, fish, swear, and deal with his ever-changing moods. They married and were together until his passing in 1961.
Hemingway became an alcoholic, stopped writing, and was diagnosed as bipolar. In those days, mental illness was seen as a weakness, so he received shock therapy that negatively affected his memory. Finally, he chose suicide with a shotgun to the mouth.
Where Is the Hemingway Home and Museum Located?
The Ernest Hemingway Home/Museum is in the Florida Keys. It is found at 907 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida.
There are 30-minute tours that start at 9 AM and go until 5 PM, and the museum is open seven days a week.
A Note About Air Conditioning in the Ernest Hemingway House
Because the Ernest Hemingway House is considered a National Historic Landmark, everything inside must be maintained and preserved to be original. Since the Florida Keys are so hot and humid, people would pass out or be uncomfortable while touring the place. Therefore, the curator had to figure out a way to add air conditioning.
Centralized AC wouldn’t work, and window units could take away from the building’s architectural beauty. Ultimately, they decided to install a Unico System with small, high-velocity ducts. They’re hidden from view and will pump cool air into the building. We were very grateful that they did this because we didn’t want to sweat in the Florida heat!
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum.
