Few places in America blur the line between literary legend and living, breathing attraction quite like the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Key West, and in 2024 — on the 125th anniversary of Hemingway’s birth — it was named the most popular celebrity landmark in the entire state of Florida and the 14th most popular nationwide. Whether you arrive as a devoted Hemingway scholar, a curious history buff, or simply someone who loves an eccentric encounter with a polydactyl cat, this place has a way of captivating everyone who walks through its gates.
Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, purchased the home in 1931, and it remained his primary residence for nearly a decade. After the Hemingways’ divorce and deaths, the house was converted into a private museum in 1964, and on November 24, 1968, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Today, it draws 600 to 800 visitors a day, every single day of the year.
What to See & Do
The museum offers guided tours that allow visitors to delve into the rich history of the house, Hemingway’s life, and his contributions to literature. Tours run daily, and knowledgeable guides share stories about Hemingway’s personal life, his writing habits, and the history of the home. Many visitors appreciate the guides’ ability to share interesting, memorable anecdotes about Hemingway’s life and work — the kind of colorful storytelling you simply won’t find in any biography.
Hemingway wrote several of his most famous novels while living here, including A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Green Hills of Africa, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and Death in the Afternoon. Standing in the very rooms where those pages were typed out gives the whole experience a powerful, almost surreal weight.
Hemingway’s writing studio, built above a detached carriage house, is a particular highlight. His original typewriter still sits on the table where he wrote during the years he lived here — a strong sense of his presence emanates from this intimate, extraordinary room. All of the house’s rooms are open to visitors, except for the writing room itself, which can only be viewed through a screen — a small but meaningful detail that somehow makes it feel even more sacred.
Then, of course, there are the cats. 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 today are descendants of that original cat, named Snow White. About half of the cats at the museum have the physical polydactyl trait, but they all carry the polydactyl gene in their DNA. Hemingway named all of his cats after famous people, and the museum follows that same tradition today — so don’t be surprised if you find a cat named Billie Holiday napping on a four-poster bed.
A unique and extraordinary feature of the grounds is the in-ground swimming pool, built in 1937–38 at the then-staggering cost of $20,000 — the first in-ground pool in Key West, and the only one within 100 miles at the time. The story goes that the pool was so expensive, Hemingway embedded a penny in the surrounding concrete, announcing that the pool may as well take the last penny he owned. That embedded penny is still visible today — a tiny, delightful piece of Hemingway’s legendary personality preserved in stone.
The Architecture & Grounds
Construction on the house began in 1848 and was completed in 1851 by Asa Tift, a marine architect and salvage wrecker, in a French Colonial estate style. The home’s site, across the street from the Key West Lighthouse, sits at an elevation of 16 feet above sea level — the second-highest point on the island — and its 18-inch thick limestone walls provide serious protection during tropical storms and hurricanes.
The house is a reflection of Hemingway’s eclectic tastes, featuring antique European furniture, Spanish tiles, and the personal writing studio where he penned some of his most influential works. The rooms contain antiques and memorabilia from Hemingway’s world travels, giving the space the feel of a well-lived adventure rather than a sterile exhibit. Fancy chandeliers replaced original ceiling fans, a nod to Pauline’s more refined fashion sense, and little flourishes like this make every room a story in itself.
The grounds and gardens are just as much a part of the tour as the house itself. Lush, tropical vegetation frames every corner of the property, and some visitors simply sit and read a book in the gardens, watching the sun reflect off the iconic pool. It’s a remarkably peaceful escape from the bustle of Key West’s streets just outside the gates.
Other Considerations
What does it cost to get in? Tickets include the guided tour and cost $19 for adults and $7 for kids ages 6 to 12, with children 5 and younger getting in for free. The admission covers both the guided tour and unlimited time on the grounds afterward, which makes it a solid value for the experience you get.
Is this a good spot for families and kids? Absolutely. The polydactyl cats alone are enough to keep younger visitors completely enchanted. Plan to spend about 1–2 hours visiting — taking the tour, browsing the gift shop, and, of course, searching for cats. It’s a casual, manageable outing that works well for all ages.
Do I need a reservation? The Hemingway Home is open for walk-in visits 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and reservations are not required. That said, the longer you wait in the day, the more crowded it gets — arriving first thing in the morning is a smart move.
What about parking? The museum is conveniently located for foot or bike exploration, but parking can be tricky. It’s an easy walk from many Key West hotels and vacation rentals, and there is even a Key West Old Town Trolley Stop just out front — so leaving the car behind is often the better call.
Anything else worth knowing before I go? You’ll find a bookstore and gift shop on-site stocked with everything from first-edition reprints to cat-themed souvenirs. Also, when Hurricane Irma struck the Keys in 2017 and the entire island chain was ordered to evacuate, the museum’s curator, general manager, and a team of employees declined to leave — staying behind to protect the house and its cats. That level of dedication says everything you need to know about how seriously this place takes its legacy.
Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
📍 907 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040
Website: https://www.hemingwayhome.com
