American literary genius Ernest Hemingway died on 2 July 1961 by suicide at the age of 61. He was almost as well known for his heavy drinking and wild lifestyle as for his iconic novels, and the simplicity of his grave – in the local cemetery at Ketchum, Idaho, where he spent his final years – is quite a contrast. A plain rectangular stone set into grass is inscribed with only his name, birth and death dates, and there is no epitaph. The location was also a surprise to some, who expected him to be interred in Key West, where his beloved cats are buried.

Only his name, birth and death dates are inscribed.

Hemingway, whose works include For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Sun also Rises and The Old Man and The Sea, was buried just four days after his death. The ceremony was a quiet one, attended only by close friends and family. His reported last words to his wife were: “Goodnight, my kitten.”

Since his passing, the author’s grave has become a pilgrimage site, with visitors from around the world leaving flowers, handwritten notes and even bottles of alcohol in tribute, almost daily.
These daily gestures reflect how deeply readers connect with his work.