We Toured His Birthplace and These Ernest Hemingway Facts Blew Our Mind

Hemingway often lied about his childhood

Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1899, into a family that outwardly embodied Victorian values. His father, Dr. Clarence Hemingway, was a well-respected physician who instilled in his children a love for nature, hunting, and self-reliance. His mother, Grace Hall Hemingway, was a former opera singer who gave up performing to teach music but remained ambitious, artistic, and deeply influential in Hemingway’s upbringing.

Despite growing up in a wealthy and educated family, Hemingway would later downplay his privileged upbringing, often portraying himself as a rough, working-class man who had to carve out his own success. He claimed he came from a modest background, when in reality, he grew up in a large, comfortable home, attended good schools, and spent summers at the family’s Walloon Lake cottage in Michigan, where he learned to fish, hunt, and appreciate the outdoors.

He grew up with a literal skeleton in the closet

Most kids grow up with bedtime stories, but young Ernest Hemingway had something far more unusual in his childhood home—a real human skeleton. His father, Dr. Clarence Hemingway, was a physician, and in the early 1900s, it was common for doctors to keep anatomical specimens at home for medical study. At the time, each physician’s household was allowed one human skeleton, which was often used for reference and education.

Rather than finding it disturbing, young Hemingway was fascinated by the skeleton and his father’s medical tools, developing an early interest in anatomy, injuries, and the physical realities of life and death. This exposure likely influenced his graphic and precise descriptions of wounds, suffering, and mortality in his later works. His war stories, in particular, demonstrate a keen understanding of the body’s fragility and resilience, likely shaped by his childhood exposure to medical science.

He was often forced to play dress up

As a child, Hemingway’s mother dressed him and his older sister, Marcelline, as twins—despite being 18 months apart in age. As a toddler, she often put young Ernest in frilly dresses, styled his hair in long curls, and even introduced him as “Ernestine.” Grace had always wanted twin girls, and since she didn’t have them, she treated her first two children as if they were a matched set.

Some believe this early experience played a role in Hemingway’s lifelong obsession with masculinity, as he spent much of his adult life proving his toughness through hunting, boxing, bullfighting, war correspondence, and deep-sea fishing. His writing often glorified rugged, hyper-masculine protagonists, and he was known for his public displays of bravado. 

He was obsessed with war — even as a child

Hemingway’s fascination with war started early, shaped by the stories of his grandfather, Anson Tyler Hemingway, a Civil War veteran. As a child, he eagerly listened to tales of battle and bravery, fueling his obsession with heroism, honor, and the realities of combat. He collected Civil War memorabilia, played war games with friends, and devoured every war story he could find—a passion that would later define much of his literary career.

Though Hemingway dreamed of becoming a soldier, his poor eyesight disqualified him from enlisting in World War I. Undeterred, he volunteered as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in Italy, seeking adventure and a taste of the battlefield. It wasn’t long before he got more than he bargained for—while delivering supplies to soldiers, he was severely wounded by mortar fire. Shrapnel tore into his legs, but even while bleeding heavily, Hemingway carried an injured soldier to safety. His bravery earned him the Italian Silver Medal of Valor, marking his first real-life brush with the themes of courage and sacrifice that would later permeate his writing.

He had an interesting uncle who might have inspired his adventurous spirit

Hemingway’s Uncle Tyler Hancock was the classic “fun uncle”—a man who lived life on his own terms and always returned home with grand stories, exotic gifts, and pockets full of cash. Unlike Hemingway’s strict and disciplined father, Tyler was a free-spirited adventurer, often disappearing for long stretches and then reappearing with tales of his latest escapades.

While there’s little documentation on the specifics of Tyler  Hancock ’s adventures, some speculate that his thrilling stories fueled Hemingway’s own love for travel, war reporting, and big-game hunting. Throughout his life, Hemingway seemed to chase the same kind of excitement—whether it was driving ambulances in World War I, running with the bulls in Spain, covering wars as a journalist, or deep-sea fishing off the coast of Cuba. He embraced a life of high-stakes adventure, much like his uncle.

His father’s death haunted him for life

Hemingway’s father, Dr. Clarence Hemingway, died by suicide in 1928, a tragedy that deeply scarred the writer and shaped much of his later life. Clarence had been struggling with depression and health problems, including diabetes and heart issues. His financial troubles also contributed to his deteriorating mental state. Despite being a respected physician, he felt trapped and hopeless, ultimately taking his own life in the Hemingway family home.

Ernest never forgave his mother, Grace, for what he saw as her role in his father’s misery. He viewed her as overbearing, emotionally distant, and manipulative, believing that her domineering nature had pushed Clarence into despair. In Hemingway’s later years, he often spoke bitterly of her, and while some sources suggest he refused to attend her funeral, others claim he was too ill to travel at the time.

This tragic event cast a long shadow over Hemingway’s life, fueling his lifelong struggles with depression, alcoholism, and a deep fear of following in his father’s footsteps. In his later years, as his own health declined and he suffered from paranoia and memory loss, he seemed unable to escape the fate that had haunted him for decades. In 1961, Hemingway died by suicide, mirroring the same tragic end as his father.

He survived TWO plane crashes in 48 hours

Hemingway’s life was often as dramatic as his fiction, and nowhere was this more evident than in 1954, when he survived not one, but two plane crashes within days of each other—an ordeal that would have killed most people.

While on a safari in Africa with his wife, their sightseeing plane made an emergency landing in the jungle after striking an old utility pole wire. Hemingway and the other passengers survived but were stranded overnight. The next day, while attempting to leave the area, he boarded another plane—but this time, it exploded upon takeoff.

This time, Hemingway suffered a fractured skull, internal bleeding, burns, and a compressed vertebra, among other injuries. Newspapers mistakenly published his obituary, assuming no one could have survived both crashes. Days later, he emerged from the jungle, grinning, drinking gin straight from the bottle, and joking about the reports of his death.

Though he lived through the crashes, the injuries took a serious toll on his health. He suffered from chronic pain, worsening mental health struggles, and reduced mobility for the rest of his life.

Looking to learn more about Hemingway?

If you’re fascinated by Hemingway’s larger-than-life adventures, the best way to dive deeper into his world is by taking a tour of the Ernest Hem ingway Birthplace Museum in Oak Park, Illinois. This beautifully preserved Victorian home offers a glimpse into the early life of one of America’s greatest writers, showcasing exhibits that trace his journey from a small-town boy to a literary icon.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of his novels or just discovering his story, walking through the home where Hemingway was born brings his legacy to life in a way that no book or documentary can. Step into the very rooms where he spent his childhood, hear untold stories about his family, and get a firsthand look at the environment that shaped his future as a war hero, journalist, and Nobel Prize-winning author.

After your visit, continue your Hemingway adventure by exploring the Hemingway District in Oak Park. This charming area, dedicated to his legacy, is filled with local shops, eateries, and landmarks that celebrate the town’s most famous resident. Grab a bite to eat, browse the boutiques, and soak in the atmosphere of the neighborhood that shaped one of literature’s greatest minds.