Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park facts for kids
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Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings House
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View of the Kinnan Rawlings home
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cross Creek, Alachua County, Florida |
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| Built | circa 1890 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000176 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | September 20, 2006 |
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park is a cool place to visit in Florida. It's a state park and a historic site. This park used to be the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896-1953). She was a famous author who won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize for her writing. Her old home is now a National Historic Landmark. You can find it in Cross Creek, Florida, which is between Ocala and Gainesville. The address is 18700 South County Road 325.
Exploring the Park's Location
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park sits right on the eastern side of Orange Lake. It's just a short distance south of a small village called Cross Creek. The park itself is about 8 acres (or 3.2 hectares) big. But it's also next to other public lands that used to be part of Marjorie Rawlings's property. These lands add up to about 115 acres (or 46.5 hectares).
You'll find a public parking area and a boat ramp south of the main house. The house, gardens, and other buildings are all part of the park. The main house is a large, one-story wooden building. Its oldest part is a special kind of house called a dogtrot house, which was built in the 1800s. Other buildings on the property include a pump house, a barn, and a small house for workers. Only the pump house is also from the 1800s.
A Glimpse into History
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 on making the house bigger and fitting it to their needs. Both Marjorie and Charles also worked on their writing careers.
Marjorie first became well-known for her stories. These stories were published in a magazine called Scribner's Magazine. She won the famous Pulitzer Prize in 1939 for her book, The Yearling. Her writing was full of details about the central Florida area where she lived. She truly loved and understood the nature around her home.
After Marjorie passed away in 1953, she left her property to a foundation of 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 fun things to do at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park! You can go hiking on two short trails. You can also take a tour of the house. Tours happen Thursday through Sunday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Just remember, there are no tours in August and September.
Park employees dress in clothes from the 1930s. They share stories that bring rural Florida to life. It's like stepping back in time! Visitors can also pick and taste oranges from the many trees on the property.
Florida state parks are open every day of the year, even on holidays. They are open from 8 a.m. until sundown. It costs $3 per car to enter the park.
