- Recognition of Literary Importance: Scholars and fans of her work advocated for the preservation of her home and lands, emphasizing its significance as both a cultural and historical site.
- State Acquisition: In 1970, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, recognizing the site’s value, acquired the property and established it as a state park.
- Historic Preservation: Efforts were undertaken to restore and maintain the house, orange groves, gardens, and natural landscapes to reflect the period during which Rawlings lived there.
- National Recognition: The property was designated a National Historic Landmark, acknowledging its role in American literary history and the conservation of rural Florida culture.
As a state park, the property provides visitors with insight into early 20th-century Florida life while honoring Rawlings’ contributions to literature.
Architectural and Landscape Features
The park retains both the built and natural environments that shaped Rawlings’ life:
- Rawlings’ Home: The house features her personal library, original furnishings, writing desk, and kitchen spaces, offering visitors an authentic sense of domestic life in the 1930s and 1940s.
- Citrus Groves: The orange trees surrounding the property were an essential component of daily life and economic sustenance, reflecting traditional Florida citrus farming techniques.
- Gardens and Hammocks: Rawlings maintained small gardens, fruit trees, and ornamental plantings, complemented by natural oak hammocks and creek-side landscapes.
- Cross Creek: The freshwater creek runs through the property, serving as a natural boundary and recreational area. Its banks provided inspiration for her writing and observation of wildlife.
Preserving these features has allowed the park to serve as a living museum of both Florida architecture and rural horticultural practices. shutdown123