1239 North Dearborn

Many will know about Ernest Hemingway's childhood years in Oak Park and the house museum there in his honor. But what about the three months he spent as a Gold Coast renter in 1921? Indeed, Hemingway and first wife Hadley Richardson moved into a 4th floor walkup unit at 1239 N. Dearborn Ave following their Michigan honeymoon. The handsome brick townhouse and its apartments were in rather shabby shape 100 years ago, and the neighborhood was far from the luxury enclave it is today. Not yet an established writer, this was still considered a pivotal year in the young author's life. He spent this time writing ad copy and devouring literature. Hemingway's next move would be to Paris, where he befriended such legends as Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein. For the past several decades for the Dearborn Garden Walk, the house's first floor hallway has been set up as an informal Hemingway Museum. The walls are adorned with photos, magazine covers, posters, and clippings from newspapers and magazines, all depicting moments from Hemingway's life. Separate sections are dedicated to his time in Oak Park, at 1239 N. Dearborn, in Africa, and in Spain. In the Hollywood section, a list displays Hemingway’s works that were adapted into films, alongside movie posters from those years. A nearby wall holds a collection of books written by or about Hemingway. It will make its return during Open House Chicago.