OT: Laura Ingalls Wilder museum?

[MouseLover]

I know there is one in Missouri, somewhere not far from either Springfield/Branson area or Kansas City area.

Does anyone here know exactly where it is located? Do you have any info on it?

Thanks.

 

[middleofamerica]

Yes, it is in Mansfield, MO close to Springfield. It has her house, Rocky Ridge Farm, where she wrote the Little House series of books. You can tour the house and there is a museum and gift shop there. They have Wilder Days in Sept.the 12-15 according to the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce website. You can also visit the graves of Laura, Almonzo, and Rose if you wish at the local cemetery. It's a great place to visit! I grew up in Springfield and loved her and her books!
Check out lauraingallswilderhome.com for more info!

 

[Silly Girl]

If you're interested I live in Independence, Kansas where the Little House on the Prairie book actually takes place. We have a replica of the home they lived in just outside of town. Independence is about 3 hours west of Springfield.

middleofamerica -- how far is Mansfield from Springfield. I've always wanted to go there but was never sure exactly where it was. We go to Branson often and I've always thought of taking a side trip to Mansfield.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

There is also a place in DeSmet, South Dakota - the Shores of Sliver Lake and Little Town on the Paire, the house they built in town is still there, a replica of the surveyors house, the trees Pa planted out on the claim -- a school house, I think Olson's Store (?), and they have a pageant too

I think Ma, Pa, and Mary are buried there - Maybe Carrie and Grace too?

Here is a link http://www.ingallshomestead.com/

Very nice, little place.

Here is a link to the pageant info as well http://desmetpageant.org/

 

[middleofamerica]

Sillygirl-I copied these directions from the website I mentioned above for travel between Springfield and Mansfield. It's really not that far and very worth it if you are a fan!

Rocky Ridge Farm, where Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her famous "Little House" books, is only 45 miles east of Springfield, MO on highway 60. From Springfield take Highway 60 east to Mansfield and take the second Mansfield exit. Turn right off of the exit ramp and continue on that street into town, it dead-ends at the city square. Turn left at the square and continue for less than a mile to the historic home. The farmhouse and museum are on the right, parking is on the left.

I'll have to check out the one in Independence, I live in Kansas now as well!

 

[Silly Girl]

Thanks for the info middleofamerica! You can go to www.littlehouseontheprairie.com for information on the site in Independence.

 

[princesssfws]

Sillygirl-I copied these directions from the website I mentioned above for travel between Springfield and Mansfield. It's really not that far and very worth it if you are a fan!

Rocky Ridge Farm, where Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her famous "Little House" books, is only 45 miles east of Springfield, MO on highway 60. From Springfield take Highway 60 east to Mansfield and take the second Mansfield exit. Turn right off of the exit ramp and continue on that street into town, it dead-ends at the city square. Turn left at the square and continue for less than a mile to the historic home. The farmhouse and museum are on the right, parking is on the left.

I'll have to check out the one in Independence, I live in Kansas now as well!

middleofamerica - just had to respond b/c I grew up in Spfld as well, Glendale '91, but now live in Kansas. Small internet.

 

[abcboys]

Yes, I went there probably 15-20 years ago. We were on vacation and my dad made a detour to stop there because he knew how much I like Little House. It was pretty cool. I have a book somewhere that has all the Ingall's pictures in it. It's weird seeing what they "really" looked like.

 

[chickie]

We went there 3 years ago with my dd's kindergarden enrichment class. They were read a few of the books throughout the school year, and it is a tradition that the class, with their families, takes a trip there every May. It only took about 30 or so minutes from Springfield, if I remember correctly. I thought the kiddos were a bit young to really understand everything, but it was a really nice trip. It was amazing how small everything in the house was! They said that Almonzo(sp?) and Laura were not very tall, so all the cabinets and everything reflected that.
We took a big detour on the way back and spent one night in Branson, where dd and dh rode go-carts and we played mini-golf before heading back to St. Louis the next day.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

omg- I loved, loved, loved her books as a girl. I have read everything I could find on her. It never dawned on me that there would be someplace to visit. Thank you! I am going to plan a trip!

 

[jodifla]

omg- I loved, loved, loved her books as a girl. I have read everything I could find on her. It never dawned on me that there would be someplace to visit. Thank you! I am going to plan a trip!

There's also a museum in Southwest Minnesta where she lived.....they even have a Pageant there every year with horses and other live aninmals! (Yes, I've been....)

http://www.walnutgrove.org/index.html

 

[wdw_girl_18]

There is also a place in DeSmet, South Dakota - the Shores of Sliver Lake and Little Town on the Paire, the house they built in town is still there, a replica of the surveyors house, the trees Pa planted out on the claim -- a school house, I think Olson's Store (?), and they have a pageant too

I think Ma, Pa, and Mary are buried there - Maybe Carrie and Grace too?

Here is a link http://www.ingallshomestead.com/

Very nice, little place.

Here is a link to the pageant info as well http://desmetpageant.org/

Thanks to you, were going there!!!!!!!

I never even knew those books were based on actual places that you can visit!

we were planning on going to sd next summer to see mt rushmore, and now were gonna be making a pit stop there.

I haven't read the books since 3rd grade, so I'm gonna dig them out of the attic and re-read them =]

Thanks so much!!!!!!

you seriously have no idea how happy I am

 

[Love the Mouse]

LOL...I just had to respond. I was on the Laura Ingels Wilder site and saw that they have some kind of a train tour that stops at the Little Houses along the way. My daughter (3) and I watch Little House every day and she is always asking when we can watch "Pa and Half Pint". I asked my DH if he would like to do the Train tour and he just looked at me like I was nuts. I would love to see and explore all of these sites that you all are talking about. I glad there are others out there that love these books as much as I do. I just wished I lived closer...NJ is a bit of a hike.

 

[middleofamerica]

middleofamerica - just had to respond b/c I grew up in Spfld as well, Glendale '91, but now live in Kansas. Small internet.

How funny! I went to Hickory Hills, K-8, but was barely on the line to go to Central instead of all of Glendale like all of my friends! Very small internet!

 

[mslclark]

We visited the one in De Smet, SD. It's actually several different houses you go through on a self-guided tour. And a gift shop with cute bonnets and such!