There’s a guided tour around the property and it was very informative, but there seems to be some distinct differences between what the tour gides claim, and what is published elsewhere (such as Wikipedia). For example -- although tour guides claim that certain items belonged to Hemingway, none of the furniture, books, or other items in the house, except for one chandelier, can be documented as having been owned by the Hemingway.
But it definitely a sight. . .
Walking down Whitehead Street towards the outer wall of the house. . .
. . .Hemingway had the wall built after the house become somewhat of a tourist attraction. The 'cat guard' fence was added more recently and is just slightly visible over the top. . .
. . .closer view of the 'cat guard' fence, just inside of the front gate of the grounds. . .
. . .an ornamental copper fountain in the front walkway. The sculpture depicts dragonflies over leaves. . .
. . .the obligatory Historical Markers. . .
. . . front of the house, looking up from the walkway. I really liked the balconys and how they wrapped around the entire house. . .
. . .the story of Asa F. Tift, who originally built the house for Hemingway in the 20s. . .
. . .furnishings in the living room, which his wife Pauline collected while she lived in Paris and had shipped to Key West. . .
. . .paintings of Key West, the six toe'd cats, and Hemingway. . .
. . .fishing boats in the harbor. . .
. . .article from Life Magazine about Hemingway -- “Painful Toll of Adventure”. . .
. . .personal photos from around Key West. . .
. . .original contract to build Hemingway's boat. . .
. . .cashed checks from back in the day. . .
. . .original title to the “Whitehead Street Property”, aka the Hemingway House. . .
. . .large painting of Hemingway. . .
. . .a “tantalus”, a Spanish bottle safe used to keep a rare wine vintage away from the servants. . .
. . .upstairs in the Master Beadroom, the chandelier over the bed. The sun molding on the ceiling kinda looks like it’s holding the chandelier in its teeth. . .
. . .the master bed, which are two twin beds pushed together. The headboard is a gate from an old Spanish Monastery. . .
. . .a Picasso sculpture of the original six toed cat. . .
. . .the master bathroom. . .
. . .a picture of Hemingway in Paris and other momentos. . .
. . .aparently he had a problem paying his property taxes ontime. . .
. . . another bathroom, complete with running water (one of the only houses in the area with running water at the time). . .
. . .the ceilings in the bathroom were originally built low and reinforced to accomodate a rain cistern on the roof. . .
. . .photos from the family over the fireplace. The white cabinets on the left was where manuscripts were kept while they were being worked on. . .
. . .family photo collage. . .
. . .looking down the stairs towards the front door. . .
. . .above what was a carriage house, Hemingway's writing studio. . .
. . .this safe was a gift from his wife’s uncle in 1935. . . it's now (supposedly) empty, and stays in the museum giftshop. . .
. . .the grounds which were planted after Hemingway's death. Back when he lived here, the island had few plants due to the limited natural water source. . .
. . .a basin used to give water to the cats. The tourguide explained that it was actually a urinal, and that Hemingway's wife was horrifed at it being in her garden and she spruced it up with the tile. . .
. . .view of the pool from the grounds. . .
. . .the pool, which was purchased by Hemingway's wife while he was out of the country. It cost more than the original price of the house. . .
. . .view of the pool from the writing studio. . .
. . .a matching house for the cats. . .
. . .looking up towards the wrap around balcony. . .
. . . back at the front of the house, with the ghost of Ernest Heminway relaxing and reading the paper on bench. (Despite what Alicia says!)
