John Ringling’s and Ca’ d’Zan Mansion
Cà d’Zan, the Home of John Ringling
The Cà d’Zan, or the “House of John,” is John and Mable Ringling’s Venetian Gothic mansion on Sarasota Bay. The imposing structure was originally intended to combine architectural features drawn from two of Mrs. Ringling’s favorite Venetian hotels: the Danieli and the Bauer-Grünwald. The Ringlings moved into the mansion just before Christmas in 1926.
Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in Florida
A black and white photo captures Thomas Edison and Henry Ford alongside their wives, showcasing their longstanding friendship and shared interests in innovation and travel.
Edison’s Home and Telegraph Technology
Edison’s peaceful residence served as a seasonal retreat and now forms part of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates museum. Adjacent to this site, a telegraph and telex display represents Edison’s pivotal contributions to communication technology and industrial innovation.
Phonograph and Moving Picture Viewer
On display are examples of early sound and visual technologies. The phonograph illustrates Edison’s influence on recorded sound, while the moving picture viewer highlights advancements in motion pictures.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Her Home
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, celebrated for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling, lived and wrote at Cross Creek, Florida. Her home and surroundings are now preserved as the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Site.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ Residence at Cross Creek
The backyard of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Site reflects the rural setting that inspired her literary works. Her typewriter, used to write books such as South Moon Under, The Yearling, and The Sojourner, remains preserved.
Daily Life and Domestic Tools
On the back porch sits an old ice chest, and inside the kitchen, a traditional stove with a kettle and pots demonstrates the tools of daily life during Rawlings’ time.