Ernest Miller Hemingway, July 21, 1899 - July 2, 1961

"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places."

Hemingway sites visited: 

His birthplace in Oak Park, Illinois.

Kalkaska, Michigan.

The General Store and Red Fox Inn in Horton Bay, Michigan, are full of  Hemingway memorabilia. The General Store was recently remodeled and the second floor was turned into a rental space.

Petoskey, Michigan.

The Pere Marquette Railroad Station is a little iffy but here it is.

Hemingway stayed at the Perry Hotel in 1916.

City Park Grill was known as The Annex when Hemingway hung out there as a young man.

Jesperson's restaurant is an alleged Hemingway hangout.

A nearby statue.

Ernest married his first wife, Hadley Richardson, in Horton Bay in 1921 and they honeymooned at Windemere Cottage on Walloon Lake, the Hemingway family cottage. Ernest never returned to Michigan after that but Michigan continues to make the most of the time he did spend here. Here's the cottage on Walloon Lake, which is still owned by family members.

Ernest and his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, first stayed in Key West at the Trev-Mar Hotel in 1928 where he wrote "Farewell to Arms" from his second story room.

Ernest and Pauline lived in this house in Key West, Florida 1931-1939 and tours are provided of the home.

The famous six-toed cats still roam the place.

Ernest's study was my favorite part of the tour.

The current Captain Tony's Saloon location was where the original Sloppy Joe's was located (1933-1937), 428 Greene Street. In 1938 Sloppy Joe's was moved to Duval Street and the Greene Street location is now the less famous and much smaller Captain Tony's Saloon. 

Hemingway probably spent more time at the first location but the second location is where everyone goes, including us.

Joe Russell owned Sloppy Joe's and was a fishing buddy of Ernest. We found his grave in the Key West cemetery.

We visited the JFK Museum in Boston in 2025 and found a small Hemingway exhibit.

I'm glad JFK was a fan of his writing because I sure am.

And there are plenty of books written about him by relatives and others, many obviously slanted and not very objective. Judge for yourself.

Marriages:

Hadley Richardson 1921-1927, one son, Jack (father of Margaux, Mariel, Joan)

Pauline Pfeiffer 1927-1940, two sons, Patrick (one wife, one child) and Gregory/Gloria (4 wives, many children)

Martha Gellhorn 1940-1945

Mary Welsh 1946-1961, until his death by suicide.

RIP Ernest Hemingway.

"All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know."