WHERE HEMINGWAY’S STORY BEGINS

Ernest Hemingway's Birthplace Museum is nestled just west of downtown Chicago in Oak Park, Illinois. This is the ideal place to begin exploring the roots of the author's life and work. It is here that Ernest Hemingway was born in a second-floor bedroom on July 21, 1899. This Queen Anne home designed by Wesley Arnold, was built in 1890 by his maternal grandparents and was one of the first homes in Oak Park to have electricity. The famed Pulitzer Prize winning author spent the first six years of his life at what is now 339 N. Oak Park Avenue. A full restoration started in 1992, authentically returned the house to its 1890s’ Victorian heritage; maintaining many of its original features that even Ernest would find familiar.

As you take a moment and stand in front of this beautiful Victorian residence, with its expansive porch and grand turret be prepared to take a small step back in time. As you stroll up the wooden walkway to the front door, you begin to see what life was like at the turn of the 20th century. Upon entering, furnishings confirm this place in history as our conversant docents share the influences and stories told reflecting the young man who lived here. Join us for a unique experience as we explore where Hemingway’s story begins.