Rawlings purchased the property in 1928 after moving from New York City to focus on her writing career.
The house features a traditional 'dog-trot' architectural design, originally designed to encourage cross-ventilation in the humid climate.
Many of the plants in the flower garden are descendants of those planted by Rawlings herself in the 1930s.
Rawlings wrote her famous novel 'The Yearling' while sitting at a typewriter in the house's screened-in porch.
The park maintains a collection of heritage citrus trees, reflecting the varieties historically grown in this region of Alachua County.
The local community of Cross Creek served as the primary inspiration for the characters and setting in her non-fiction memoir.
The farm includes a traditional barn and outbuildings that exhibit 1930s rural tools and agricultural technology.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park preserves the 1930s farmhouse where the Pulitzer Prize-winning author wrote 'The Yearling' and 'Cross Creek'. The site includes the original residence, a working farm, and an heirloom grove maintained to reflect the author's lifestyle in rural Florida. Visitors can tour the furnished house, which features many of the author's personal belongings and original literary workspace. The property is situated in the hamlet of Cross Creek, sandwiched between Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake. The park operates as a living history site, demonstrating 1930s Florida cracker-style architecture and agricultural practices. The grounds include native flora, a citrus grove, and historic outbuildings. Tours of the home are led by rangers in period-appropriate attire who explain the local history and the author's connection to the rural community.
The front porch of the farmhouse, particularly with the view of the surrounding orange grove.
Bring insect repellent, as the humid, lakeside environment in Cross Creek can be prone to mosquitoes and biting flies.
Call ahead to verify tour availability, as entry into the historic home is only possible via guided ranger tours.
Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for sandy trails and uneven farm terrain.
Do not attempt to enter the farmhouse without a guide, as independent wandering inside the structure is restricted.
The house is closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. Tours are conducted on a seasonal schedule that may fluctuate based on staff availability.
Maintain silence inside the historic house; do not touch furniture or artifacts; stay on marked paths to protect the heritage gardens.
