Southernmost House Hotel Historic Bed and Breakfast is a historic bed and breakfast in the City of Key West, Florida in Monroe County, United States. Five U.S. Presidents have stayed there. It is located in the Upper Duval district.
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History
Judge Vinning Harris built the Mansion on the sea now called the Southernmost House Hotel in 1897. His wife was the youngest daughter of William Curry one of Florida's first millionaires. The Curry families were builders with eight mansions in the Historic District of Key West. The Harris families were prominent citizens at the turn of the century and had invested in Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad to Key West, often entertaining him at the mansion during its construction.
This Queen Anne Victorian style house was designed as a one-bedroom mansion. It has open water views, public rooms, two story balconies, and large stained glass windows. The Southernmost House was the first home in Key West with electricity, and Mrs Harris was able to engage Thomas Edison to oversee the electrical design and installation for the house. In the 1930s air conditioning was installed.
During the Prohibition period from 1919-1933 the mansion served as a speakeasy. The first floor was a restaurant; the second floor was used for casino gambling and the third floor for "socializing." During this period, celebrities and notorious gangsters who were in route to Havana often visited the mansion. In the 1940's the mansion was operated as a nightclub called "Cafe Cayo Hueso," hosting such notables as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Gore Vidal, Truman Capote, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Louis Armstrong, and Charles Lindbergh.
In 1949 the mansion was completely renovated for use as a private residence. Since then many dignitaries and heads of state have been welcomed at the mansion. Among these are King Juan Carlos of Spain and five American Presidents: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter.
Today, the Southernmost House Hotel is an 18 room bed and breakfast.
Maps Southernmost House
References
External links
Official website
See also
- Southernmost point buoy
Source of article : Wikipedia
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