Montgomery, Alabama 36101
(334) 264-4222
Donations accepted
Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald rented this house in October 1931 and lived here with their daughter, Scottie, until April 1932. It is the only museum in the world dedicated to the memory of the Fitzgeralds.
Built in 1909, this home has 10,000 square feet of living space. Much of it now is used for apartments, with only the first floor being open to the public. A tour guide welcomes visitors and is available for questions. And an optional 30-minute documentary of the Fitzgeralds is well worth the time.
Among the items on display are two marble-topped tables from Zelda's childhood home in Montgomery (which is no longer standing), several of Zelda's paintings, and many photographs and letters.
Scott worked on his novel Tender Is the Night while living here, and Zelda began her only published novel, Save Me the Waltz, while living in the house.
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1896, Fitzgerald grew up in a society-conscious home. Although his parents were not wealthy, they lived a fashionable lifestyle and encouraged their son to associate with the elite. He studied at Princeton University where he became well known as a writer for the student drama society. He established himself as a member of the popular crowd, but he remained aware of a difference between himself and the rich. The special magic of the rich became a reoccurring theme for his writing. Fitzgerald began his writing career early with the publication of his first short story, "The Mystery of Raymond Mortgage," when he was 13 years old and the performance of his first play, "The Girl from Lazy J," when he was 15.
As a writer, Fitzgerald established himself as the voice of young men and women of the Jazz Age. He wrote short stories quickly and sold them to the most popular magazines of the day. And in 1925, his greatest accomplishment - The Great Gatsby - was published. Although the novel is now hailed one of the best of the twentieth century, it did not achieve popular or financial success. Fitzgerald spent much of his later life working as a Hollywood screenwriter.
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (1900-1948)
Petite, brown-haired Zelda Sayre made her mark as a lively, mischievous Southern belle. She tantalized boys by dancing on tabletops and appeared at a school commencement exercise with her stockings rolled to her knees. However, bouts of depression interfered with her fun-loving spirit. Both extreme emotions are reflected in her short stories and her only novel, Save Me the Waltz.
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