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On July 21, 1899, Ernest Hemingway was born in a grand, two-story house in Oak Park, Illinois, constructed by his grandparents at the beginning of the decade. Today, it stands as the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum, a cultural landmark that attracts literature enthusiasts and admirers of Victorian architecture. Beyond drawing countless visitors annually, the museum funds scholarships, hosts residencies, stages performances, organizes book discussions, and curates events that nurture a vibrant community for emerging writers. It’s a contemporary salon that Papa himself might have enjoyed had he lived in a later era.
The museum is managed by the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, a nonprofit founded in 1983. With the foundation depending heavily on ticket sales rather than a substantial endowment, the coronavirus pandemic has placed its survival in jeopardy. "The doors will shut this winter, and reopening in the spring will be impossible," the website states.
To avert a permanent shutdown, the foundation has launched a GoFundMe campaign, seeking public support to reach a $75,000 goal. Currently, contributions have reached approximately $14,000. If you wish to support this cause, you can donate here.
Additional methods to support the cause are also available. Every Saturday, the museum hosts 50-minute tours priced at $15 per person ($13 for seniors, children, and college students). Tours are limited to eight participants, and masks are mandatory. Virtual tours are also offered for those unable to visit in person.
For those looking to engage more deeply with the museum beyond a single tour or donation, membership options are available here. A $50 patron membership includes free tour access, gift shop discounts, and a yearly subscription to the museum’s Hemingway Despatch. Higher-tier society memberships, ranging from $250 to $1500, offer exclusive perks like the “Work from Hemingway’s” program, granting private access to the museum for a full day. Enjoy Wi-Fi, elegant vintage furnishings, and a home library that’s perfect for escaping the monotony of virtual meetings.
Considering how the author of The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms might view today’s global crisis, Hemingway would likely find it familiar. Having endured the 1918 flu pandemic and a summer quarantine in France in 1926 with his wife, son, and mistress, he was no stranger to adversity.
