Southernmost House facts for kids
The Southernmost House is a really old and special mansion in Key West, Florida. Key West is a sunny island city in Florida. This amazing house has hosted five different U.S. Presidents! Today, it's a cozy bed and breakfast, which means you can stay there like a hotel and get breakfast. It's located in an area called Upper Duval.
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Discovering the Southernmost House's Past
Building a Grand Mansion in Key West
A man named Judge Jeptha Vining Harris built this beautiful mansion in 1897. It cost a lot of money back then, about $250,000! His wife was the youngest daughter of William Curry. William Curry was one of Florida's first millionaires. His family built many grand homes in Key West.
The Harris family was very important in Key West around the year 1900. They helped fund Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad. This railroad connected Key West to the mainland. They often invited Mr. Flagler to their mansion while the railroad was being built.
Unique Design and Early Technology
The Southernmost House is built in a style called Queen Anne Victorian. It was designed as a huge, fancy home with one main bedroom. It has amazing views of the ocean. The house also features large public rooms and balconies on two floors. You can see beautiful stained glass windows there too.
This mansion was the very first home in Key West to have electricity! Mrs. Harris even got Thomas Edison to help with the electrical design. Later, in the 1930s, air conditioning was added. This made the house even more comfortable in the warm Florida weather.
A Secret Spot During Prohibition
From 1919 to 1933, there was a time called Prohibition. During this time, it was against the law to make or sell alcohol. The mansion became a secret place called a "speakeasy." On the first floor, there was a restaurant. The second floor was used for games like casino gambling. The third floor was for people to socialize and have fun. Many famous people and even some well-known figures on their way to Havana would visit the mansion during this period.
Famous Visitors and a New Life
In the 1940s, the mansion became a popular nightclub called "Cafe Cayo Hueso." Many famous artists, writers, and performers visited. These included Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Louis Armstrong. Even the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh stopped by!
In 1949, a man named Hilario Ramos completely updated the mansion. He turned it back into a private home. Mr. Ramos was an immigrant from Spain. He married into a wealthy family who owned a big liquor business. Since then, many important people have stayed at the mansion. These include King Juan Carlos of Spain. Five American Presidents have also visited: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter.
In 2016, the mansion was recognized as a Historic Hotel of America. Today, the Southernmost House operates as a bed and breakfast with 18 rooms. In 2023, the property was given a new name: "The Mansion on the Sea."
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