Given the number of notable people who have lived on Key West, it’s not surprising that many of their homes have been preserved. These are two of my favorites.

The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

Ernest Hemingway first came to Key West in 1928 with his new wife, Pauline. They fell in love with the place, and in 1931, Pauline’s wealthy uncle, Gus, bought them a house. Built in 1851 in the Spanish Colonial style, it occupies one of the largest residential plots on the island. While there aren’t as many original furnishings and artifacts as one might hope for, Hemingway’s story is amply filled in with photographs, as well as excellent talks by the guides. One feature that I enjoyed seeing was the pool. The first in-ground pool on Key West, it cost an astronomical (for then) $20,000. When construction neared completion, Hemingway pulled a penny from his pocket, stuck it in the wet cement and declared, “Here, take the last penny I’ve got!” It’s still there. The other legacy is the population of polydactyl cats (born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more of their paws) descended from Hemingway’s.

The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
907 Whitehead Street