Narrated by Ernest Hemingway's granddaughter, Mariel Hemingway, Hemingway Highways explores the author's time in the Bighorn Mountains and other parts of Wyoming.
The tour route follows Interstate 90 and Route 87 between Buffalo and Sheridan. It points out sites of interest such as Folly Ranch, Spear-O Ranch, Last Chance Saloon, and the Ucross Foundation along the way.
Hemingway especially loved Sheridan, Wyoming. It often served as his home base when he was in the area. Hemingway would stay at the
Sheridan Inn between his forays to guest ranches in the Bighorn Mountains, where he would hunt and fish.
Hemingway's original idea was to hole up at the Inn to finish his World War I novel, A Farewell to Arms. However, Sheridan, a happening place for Wyoming in 1928, had too many distractions for the author.
One such distraction was just around the corner from the hotel. Hemingway is said to have frequented the Mint Bar on North Main Street. At the saloon, he would drink and play poker.
Remember that 1928 fell within the years of Prohibition. While it is almost impossible to imagine today, alcohol was illegal nationwide. The Mint Bar, however, never closed during Prohibition's 13 years. Instead, it rebranded as a soda and cigar shop and quietly served alcohol out of its backroom speakeasy.
When Hemingway wasn't out drinking at the Mint Bar, he may have been down the street at Sheridan's Lotus Theater, now the WYO theater. The theater held movie screenings and vaudeville acts, actually for which it was famous.
There Hemingway could catch a film without being recognized or bothered by strangers. His first novel, The Sun Also Rises, was published in 1926, and the young author was somewhat of a celebrity, especially in cities.
Hemingway Highways offers stories about one of America's most beloved authors for your drive through Wyoming. It tells of Hemingway's time in the old west exploring the wilderness around the Bighorn National Forest. But it is not all about history. It also shares stories of other artists in Wyoming today.
If the walls, streets, and bartenders' ghosts of this "cowboy town" near the Montana border could talk, these are the tales they would tell.
Tour Sponsors This audio tour is presented by the
Wyoming Humanities Council and Sheridan College, with support from the National Endowment of the Humanities.
Find More Tours Near You If you enjoyed this audio tour, check out Hemingway Highways – Cody or the Sheridan Downton walking tour. You can find many other tours in Wyoming or wherever your travels may take you at TravelStorys.com. Every place has a story.
Location: Wyoming
Travel Type: Driving
Trip Time: 2 hours
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