Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum image

Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum

Tourist attraction Historical place museum

Hemingway was born on the 2nd floor of this Queen Anne home, now a museum of his life & career. People often mention tour, Hemingway, guide, house, interesting, family, informative, time,


Address

339 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Website

www.hemingwaybirthplace.com

Contact

(708) 445-3071

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (257 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 1 to 5 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Sunday: 1 to 5 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 1 to 5 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: tour (23) Hemingway (18) guide (14) house (11) interesting (10) family (8) informative (6) time (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Yev C. 9 months ago on Google • 135 reviews
    Yah it’s cool, I heard he’s a big writer or something. He did a lot of books, right? I think he wrote romance right? “Write sober, edit drunk?” That’s what they say, right?
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cindy 1 year ago on Google
    Great tour! Very informative. You could tell that our guide loved sharing her knowledge of Earnest Hemingway.
    11 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gary J. 1 year ago on Google • 295 reviews
    Excellent tour if you are at all interested in the young Hemingway, or EH at any age. The house has been painstakingly recreated to represent the era, as it was, very early 1900s. An online reservation recommended; small gift 'shop' available if needed. Yet another interesting little gem in Oak Park.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hannah Rose S. 2 years ago on Google • 204 reviews
    What a wonderful museum. The care and detail is absolutely exquisite. The Ernest Hemingway birthplace museum is truly a snapshot of history. The tour was very informative and the stories we heard from our guide were fascinating and often delightful. There is a wonderful mix of artifacts on display throughout the house.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aspen B. 9 months ago on Google • 17 reviews
    I stopped by to kill time one day, and it was even cooler than I thought. Adult tour tickets are $20 (I'm not sure if they have other prices for children), but for the experience I felt it was worth it.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jenny P. 2 years ago on Google
    A beautifully restored house, and a very informative house tour. The guide really knew her Hemingway/Hall family history, and kept the tour engaging.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Irem Y. 2 years ago on Google
    Definitely visit this museum and definitely take the tour.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jon I. 2 years ago on Google • 56 reviews
    Totally worth it! The guide tour was perfect and she share huge information for Hemingway's family! Great little tour.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sy G. 5 years ago on Google
    Students and military receive a discount on tickets! There is no parking lot but there was plenty of parking along the street. Tours can last up to 40-45 minutes but I asked if the tour could be given in 30 minutes and the docent was courteous to accommodate the time by covering the major points. The house was clean- which is awesome for folks who suffer from pollen/dust/dander. (I didn't cough or sneeze once!) Thanks for reading my review!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ray 6 years ago on Google
    So, finding myself in Oak Park with nothing much to do, I looked up the local tourist attractions. Boom. Hemingway House. Will do. Went with two of my buddies who, actually, are quite up on their Hemingway knowledge. We were the only three people at that time, so they and the tourist guide got into some interesting conversations. These were stilted, however, with her being asked a question and saying 'oh, we'll get to that later in the tour'. Enter the Portuguese tourist group. This is where things got sidetracked a bit, but hey, that's cool. Our two groups combined to form one super tour group and now we're all jockeying for position, trying to sees the sights, irritable babies crying in Portuguese, language barriers, etc But that was all my misfortune. The house was interesting with authentic items purchased from the Hemingway family (with our guide alluding to quite the hefty price tags). Got some history on the family and learned some things I didn't know (for example, a bunch of the Hemingways, not just Ernest, died from suicide. Like, a bunch of them) Saw the room where baby Hemingway was raised, saw the room where baby Hemingway was born, which, coincidentally, could also potentially be the room where baby Hemingway was conceived. One of my favorite parts was the secret hallway between the mom and dad's separate bedrooms. At the time it was the appropriate thing for parents to have separate rooms, but this little walkway connector allowed for nighttime activities (eyebrow wiggle). All in all we were there for over two hours which was way. Too. Long. An interesting visit that I have no need to repeat in the future.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elizabeth M. 2 months ago on Google • 98 reviews New
    Love this 50 min tour. The guide was so insightful on Hemingway. I learned so much about him as a person and his family. The guide has a conversational style that had us chatting and discussing things with her. Great time!! Highly recommend!

  • 5/5 Eddie B. 2 months ago on Google • 45 reviews New
    Amazing tour! Lots of great facts and details about the house and family of Ernest Hemingway. If you’re looking for something to do for 1-2 hours while you’re in Chicago, do this.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gabby K. 1 year ago on Google • 43 reviews
    It was a very enjoyable and educational experience, I took the tour by buying tickets in advance online and showing up for the time I picked. It was interactive but not crowded, and not only did we get to see where Hemingway was born, but our tour guide gave us lots of interesting facts and tales from his youth that included his family members and what he learned from them at that age. They also have a small little gift shop featuring books, t shirts, and other small knickknacks to remember your trip there. A very special place to visit that I highly recommend to anyone and everyone, no matter if you live in Chicago or are a visitor.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sandy W. 1 year ago on Google
    Very interesting. Docent was excellent knew the stories and engaged members of the group.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Peter S. 9 months ago on Google
    They don't allow visiting this place without a tour, but the tour guide is so old and decrepit like he is going to die in a week. And he talks so slow and doesn't allow to view rooms without him, so you basically pay for a torture. The house is pretty well restored, but the guide spoils all the experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alexander J. 4 years ago on Google
    Very interesting tour that focuses on Hemingway's family and his upbringing in the early 1900's-- every room has a story to tell. The museum staff were very knowledgeable about Hemingway and the history of the house and surrounding neighborhood, and they were happy to answer any questions that I had. The small gift shop area by the front entrance has a lot of books and souvenirs to look at, and there was plenty of street parking available outside.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vittorio C. 1 year ago on Google
    I went there with a group and took some photos of the interior and exterior. It was quite educational and informative. The place has a classic photo of ultra macho Ernest dressed like a girl. I ended up writing a poem about the whole trip. There is also an Edgar Rice Burroughs display nearby..Beautifully preserved house. The guide was quite knowledgeable.

  • 5/5 Katrina S. 1 year ago on Google
    Very informative tour guides, very cool old house and to get to see the room where Hemingway came into this world…it was moving. We enjoyed it!

  • 4/5 dave m. 2 years ago on Google
    The famous writer's birthplace home, restored and preserved in its 19th-century form and furnishing. Tour guides will review his early life and times, and answer your questions. Many of his books and books about him can be purchased. Supported by donations and membership plans. A classic Oak Park experience for out-of-town guests and those with literary interests.

  • 5/5 M J. 2 years ago on Google
    I took my parents (who are visiting from overseas) to visit the Hemingway Birthplace Home Museum. We really enjoyed the tour, and the tour guide was excellent.

  • 5/5 Marilyn K. 8 months ago on Google
    Very interesting quick tour of an interesting man’s birthplace. The volunteers there are very knowledgeable-definitely worth touring.

  • 5/5 Sharon W. 4 months ago on Google
    Very nice tour. Very informative.

  • 5/5 Eugenio L. 5 months ago on Google
    Our guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. For the Hemingway fan this is great fun. Need reservations. By all means try it, you'll lile it!

  • 3/5 Christopher P. 2 years ago on Google
    Cool place to see... I thought we'd learn more about Hemingway, the your was mostly about his parents and grand parents though. Still interesting.


Call (708) 445-3071 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance

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