MARJORIE KINNAN RAWLINGS, AUTHOR OF THE AMERICAN LITERARY CLASSIC THE YEARLING, FOR WHICH SHE WON THE PULITZER PRIZE, MOVED TO A RURAL FARMHOUSE AT CROSS CREEK, FLORIDA, IN 1928 AND LIVED THERE FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. THE CRACKER-STYLE ARCHITECTURE OF THE HOUSE WAS WELL-SUITED FOR THE FLORIDA CLIMATE AND INCLUDED OPEN PORCHES, TALL CEILINGS AND MANY WINDOWS AND SCREENED DOORS TO ADMIT COOL BREEZES. AT CROSS CREEK, THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE INSPIRED RAWLINGS, AND HER WRITINGS BLOSSOMED. HER BOOK CROSS CREEK ENDS WITH THESE WORDS: “CROSS CREEK BELONGS TO THE WIND AND THE RAIN, TO THE SUN AND THE SEASONS, TO THE COSMIC SECRECY OF SEED, AND BEYOND ALL, TO TIME."

MARJORIE DIVORCED CHARLES RAWLINGS IN 1933, BUT STAYED ON AT THE CREEK ALONE THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND INTO MORE PROSPEROUS TIMES. IN 1941, SHE MARRIED NORTON BASKIN AND DIVIDED HER TIME BETWEEN THEIR ST. AUGUSTINE HOME AND HER CROSS CREEK RETREAT. WHEN SHE DIED IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN 1953, AT THE AGE OF 57, SHE WAS ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN NAMES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE. HER CROSS CREEK HOME WAS DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN 2006.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources