The old man spent most of his time by the sea in a famous novel by Ernest Hemingway, but as a young lad, Hemingway took to the streets of
Oak Park, Illinois, drawing inspiration and developing the writing talent that eventually made him an icon of American literature.
At the lovingly preserved Ernest Hemingway Birthplace and Museum, fans can explore the roots and early inspiration of the Nobel Prize-winning author. The tour should begin at the museum, an excellent source of background on the Hemingway family and their place in the community. His childhood diary is among the many permanent exhibits; kiosks constructed from elegant, historic doors hold rare photographs; and a letter from nurse Agnes von Kurowsky — later immortalized in Hemingway’s masterwork,A Farewell to Arms — is displayed with other noteworthy artifacts.
Hemingway was born just minutes away from the museum, in a second-floor bedroom of a stately, Queen-Anne-style home on Oak Park Avenue. It was here that the author penned his first stories (even if they were for his high school newspaper and yearbook). From the interior’s authentic Victorian furnishings and light fixtures, to the exterior’s striking turret and wooden walkway, visitors can revel in the turn-of-the-century appeal that existed when he spent his formative years in this charming suburb.