Zora Neale Hurston House

The Zora Neale Hurston House is a single-story concrete block residence with a flat roof located on Avenue L between North 17th and 19th Streets. This plainly built structure preserves the basic architecture of a modest mid-century residential building in Florida.

Author Zora Neale Hurston lived in this house from 1958 to 1959, where she completed her final manuscripts while supported by Dr. Clem C. Benton. The building was later moved about 500 feet north in 1995 to prevent its destruction during the expansion of a nearby academy.

This residence was home to one of the 20th century's most influential African-American writers who recorded the stories of Black communities throughout Florida. Visitors can sense the literary importance of a place where one of America's significant voices lived and created work.

The residence sits in a quiet neighborhood and is accessible by foot from nearby streets in this residential area. Check beforehand if guided tours or specific visiting arrangements are available, as this is a protected historic property.

After Hurston's death, her valuable manuscripts were rescued from a trash fire by Deputy Sheriff Pat Duval, preserving important literary works that could have been lost forever. This dramatic rescue shows how close significant cultural treasures came to being destroyed.

Location: Fort Pierce

Inception: 1957

Architectural style: vernacular architecture

GPS coordinates: 27.46083,-80.34194

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:08