Hemingway's Birthplace

A couple of weeks ago John and I were able to visit another Oak Park landmark--Ernest Hemingway's birthplace. Hemingway was born in a typical Victorian-style home with several bedrooms and featured a new modern convenience: an indoor bathroom. The kitchen sink also had a pivoting stool to sit on while washing dishes. Something we should definitely bring back for kitchens today.
When we visited we were able to take an hour-long tour through the house that was mostly restored to its original condition when Hemingway was a young boy. The tour focused on highlighting life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, not so much about Hemingway individually. 

An urban myth about Hemingway, when asked about Oak Park, was that he once said it was filled with 'wide lawns and narrow minds'. What became apparent to me after touring his birthplace and his museum, just down the block, was that his writing was so compelling and modern that he became popular very quickly. The impact of Hemingway on Oak Park through his writing was elevated by his dynamic and interesting personal life. It's great to have such a rich and interesting figure related to Oak Park and I'm thankful to live in place so deep with history and culture.