Ernest Hemingway's house is in much the same order as it was when he wrote here. His old typewriter, reference books and furniture are interesting. A gift shop sells books and memorabilia. Ask the guides about the rather odd ceramic "fountain" in the courtyard too! If you don't mind waiting six months to a year and paying $200 to $500 you can buy a kitten that's a direct descendant of cats that lazed on Hemingway's writing table as he wrote THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA and other great works.
Harry Truman's summer White House can be viewed from the street. Neither the architecture nor the furnishings seem more Missouri than memorable.
A stop at Sloppy Joe's Bar seems traditional and can offer a welcome relief after time in the hot sun. Some of the rum drinks here are quite lethal and the regulars a wildly varied group. Not far away, Mel Fisher's Maritime Heritage Society is a wonderful treat for those who like to lust over Old Spanish gold. Both the free and fee exhibits deserve a look. Mr. Fisher spent over a decade and lost a son searching for the Atocha and its sister ship. He eventually discovered one of the greatest treasures on record. After years in court with state and federal claimants he got to keep most of the gold. Today, you can buy gold coins, jewelry and other treasures from these sunken ships on an "if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can't afford it" basis.
The Wrecker's Museum on Duval St. offers a worthwhile look at a traditional Key West Home. It's the oldest house in Key West. Its separate cookhouse was designed to burn down, as they often did, without firing the main residence. Audubon House with its bird prints and historical connection with early American birds deserves a look. You might want to purchase a birder's guidebook; Key West has flocks of unusual tropical birds and other keys offer even better chances to spot unique tropical species. The Lighthouse Military Museum offers a quick look at the area's military history for those too hurried to make the trip to the Dry Tortugas' Forts. It also has a Japanese submarine captured at Pearl Harbor and other odds and ends. There's a good view of Key West from the "puff puff" top of the spiral staircase that winds up the lighthouse.
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