Hemingway House

It was a gorgeous day today as I returned to Key West and Hemingway House. I'm not quite sure what my fascination is with this place. It was my 3rd visit overall to this lovely, impressive homestead. Hemingway and his 2nd wife bought the house in 1931 for $8,000. It sits on the largest private lot in all of Key West at almost 1 full acre. Most agree that the purchase price was quite a bargain, even for the depression era. Later, they would add the first in ground pool for a price of $20,000. The cost was expensive due to the hard coral limestone that had to be hammered out for the 9 foot deep pool.

Hemingway loved cats and he enjoyed them wherever he lived. Today, there are currently 43 cats living on the 1 acre property. During the day, the cats freely roam the house and there are usually 1 or 2 sleeping peacefully on Hemingway's bed. Today was no exception. When the home closes and is locked up at night, the cats are shooed out, but they all feely remain on the property. There are neat little shelters, feeding stations and lush foliage for the cats to exist comfortably.

Hemingway wrote most of his classics in a small little cottage behind the main house. A couple of my pics show his typewriter, library and many of his mounts from his fishing and hunting career. Hemingway lived quite the colorful life. He lived in Canada, Europe, Cuba and Africa in addition to Key West. He was born in Oak Park, IL in 1899. He shot himself in a cabin in Idaho in 1961.Hemingway suffered from Bipolar disease and took his own life when he could no longer write anymore.

Notice the painted portrait of the young, handsome man. This is how Hemingway looked when he lived in Key West, not the usual white-haired, bearded man that we are accustomed to seeing. Hemingway's career in Key West was relatively brief, but he made a huge impact on this small community. He had several sons. His granddaughters are Muriel and Margeaux. He was a hopeless romantic, adventurer, brawler and prize-winning novelist. A perfect son of Key West.