Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park facts for kids
|
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings House
|
|
View of the Kinnan Rawlings home
|
|
 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Cross Creek, Alachua County, Florida |
|---|---|
| Built | circa 1890 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000176 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | September 20, 2006 |
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park is a special place in Florida. It's a state park and a historic site. This park was once the home of a famous writer named Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896–1953). She won a big award called the Pulitzer Prize for her books.
This historic home is in Cross Creek, Florida. You can find it between the cities of Ocala and Gainesville. It's a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important place in American history.
Contents
Explore Marjorie Rawlings' Historic Home
This park lets you step back in time to see where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived and wrote. It's a great way to learn about her life and the stories she told.
What the Park Looks Like
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park is on the east side of Orange Lake. It's just south of a small village called Cross Creek. The park itself is about 8 acres (3.2 hectares) big. But it's also next to other public lands that were once part of Rawlings' property, totaling about 115 acres (46.5 hectares).
You'll find a parking area and a boat ramp south of the main house. The house itself is a long, one-story wooden building. The oldest part of it is a "dogtrot house" from the 1800s. A dogtrot house has an open hallway through the middle. Other buildings include a pump house, a barn, and a small house for workers. Only the pump house is also from the 1800s.
The Story of the Rawlings Home
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was born in Washington, DC. In 1929, she and her husband, Charles, bought a 75-acre (30-hectare) orange grove. This property included the old dogtrot house. They worked to make the house bigger and fit their needs. Both Marjorie and Charles were writers.
Marjorie became famous for her stories published in Scribner's Magazine. In 1939, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her book The Yearling. Her writing was full of details about the central Florida area where she lived.
After Marjorie passed away in 1953, she left her property to a foundation at the University of Florida. The state of Florida has managed the property ever since. The house first opened to the public in 1970.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
There are many activities to enjoy at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park.
Park Activities and Tours
You can go hiking on two short trails. The park also offers hourly tours from Thursday to Sunday. These tours happen at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (except during August and September).
Park employees dress in clothes from the 1930s. They share stories that bring rural Florida life from that time to life. You can even pick and taste oranges from the many trees on the property.
Visiting Hours and Cost
Florida state parks are open every day of the year, including holidays. They open at 8 a.m. and close at sundown. It costs $3 per car to enter the park.
More to See
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Florida
- List of residences of American writers
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Alachua County, Florida
- Florida State Parks in Alachua County
