 |
Overview: Introduction Ernest Hemingway's home in Cuba, Finca Vigía (Lookout Farm), a villa located 12 miles outside Havana filled with original furniture, books, artwork, and other memorabilia, has serious structural problems which, if not addressed soon, could result in permanent destruction of parts of the building and, possibly, some of its irreplaceable contents.
Finca Vigía is a unique cultural treasure, drawing together Cuba and the United States in its shared heritage. Ernest Hemingway, one of the 20th century's most important writers, is a popular and much revered literary figure in Cuba. The Finca serves as a strong reminder of the influence Cuba had on Hemingway's career. This beautiful country estate was his home for 22 years, a place he lived longer than any other. Because of political differences between the two countries, little is known outside Cuba about Hemingway's years there. Finca Vigía offers the missing pieces to the puzzle, allowing scholars and the public a deeper, more complete picture of Hemingway. Yet, time is running out for the preservation of Finca Vigía.
Since Hemingway's death in 1961, Cuba's Consejo Nacional de Patrimonio (CNPC) has operated Finca Vigía, Hemingway's principal home from 1940 to 1960, as a museum. Over the years, the Finca has deteriorated as a result of exposure to tropical climate, damage from hurricanes that batter the island, and general lack of resources for adequate maintenance. The museum staff's diligent care of the Hemingway estate, a site that represents one of the strongest cultural bonds between Cuba and North America, is testimony to the importance that Ernest Hemingway represents to the Cuban people.
In order to ensure the survival of Ernest Hemingway's papers, personal items and home, we have formed the Finca Vigía Preservation Project. The Finca Vigía Preservation Project is administered under the auspices of the Finca Vigía Foundation, a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.
|
|
