Ernest Hemingway House, Colonial house museum in Key West, United States
Ernest Hemingway House is a two-story stone residence in French Colonial style located in Key West, Florida, now open as a museum. Tall rooms with French windows lead to wraparound balconies, and a tropical garden with palm trees surrounds the entire property.
A marine captain built the structure in 1851 using local limestone, and it remained uninhabited for decades until the writer acquired it in 1931. Over the following years, several major novels were completed here before the family left in 1939.
The property takes its name from the writer who spent many of his most productive years here, using an upstairs room as his workspace. Visitors today see furnishings and personal items from his time, offering a sense of the family's daily routine.
The museum opens daily and is located in the historic district of Key West, a short walk from downtown. Guided tours last around half an hour and take visitors through the ground-floor rooms and the garden with the cats.
The property is home to dozens of six-toed cats, descendants of a gift from a ship captain in the 1930s. The animals move freely around the garden and rooms, and have become a main attraction for visitors.
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