BLACK mobile logo

california

community

Zora Neale Hurston’s Final Home Purchased and Preserved by The Conservation Fund

July 17, 2025

The Conservation Fund (TCF) has purchased Zora Neale Hurston's former home in Fort Pierce, Florida, saving it from potential demolition or development. TCF will transfer the property to the Zora Neale Hurston Florida Education Foundation (ZNHFEF), which plans to transform it into a visitor and education center honoring the acclaimed Harlem Renaissance author. The home, where Hurston lived during her final years while writing for the Fort Pierce Chronicle, received National Historic Landmark status in 1991 but remained at risk until this intervention.

Who is affected

  • The Historic Lincoln Park community in Fort Pierce, Florida
  • Visitors and scholars interested in Zora Neale Hurston's legacy
  • Students who study Hurston's works in high schools and colleges across the country
  • The African American community whose heritage sites are being preserved
  • Future generations who will learn about Hurston's contributions to American literature

What action is being taken

  • The Conservation Fund is purchasing Hurston's former home to protect it from demolition or development
  • TCF is planning to transfer the property to the Zora Neale Hurston Florida Education Foundation
  • ZNHFEF is preparing to transform the home into a visitor and education center
  • Both organizations are actively fundraising to replenish funds used for the purchase and make critical improvements
  • TCF is working with partners to safeguard other important African American cultural sites across the country

Why it matters

  • The home represents the final residence of one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th century
  • Despite being designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1991, the home was at risk of being forgotten, developed, or falling into disrepair
  • The property is part of the Dust Tracks Heritage Trail honoring Hurston's life and contributions
  • The preservation addresses a broader issue of hundreds of African American sites around the country being threatened
  • The home connects to Hurston's work during Jim Crow America, providing historical context for her writing career

What's next

  • ZNHFEF plans to open the visitor and education center to the public shortly
  • The Conservation Fund and ZNHFEF will continue fundraising for property improvements
  • Critical improvements will be made to the home before it opens to visitors

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint