Gainesville is a great place to visit for a day, for a weekend or even for a whole week. One popular destination for Gainesville tourists and residents is the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park. It is a great place to visit. Keep reading this article and learn what makes this park such a great place to visit.


The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park was once the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings who is a famous author of a number of literary works. One of those great works is called The Yearling which won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Other works of literature from Rawlings include South Moon Under, Cross Creek and Golden Apples. The home is not just notable for the author however it is also worth seeing because it is a great example of Cracker architecture. It reflects the technology that was available at the time and the climate in the area. The great history of the home made it eligible to be listed as a National Historic Landmark which is an honor that has only been given to less than 2500 other structures. Visitors get a unique opportunity to step back in time into the 30's and experience farm life at the time. It is definitely worth seeing, especially for history buffs.


If you would like to visit the park while you are in Gainesville, Florida you can find it on Cross Creek near County Road 325 in Gainesville. The home, the farm and nature trails are open daily from 9AM until 5PM. If you visit from October through July you can also get the chance to tour the home with a ranger who will be dressed in period clothing. I hope you take the time to visit the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park. It is an experience that you will remember.