Visiting Laura Ingalls Wilder Museums and Homes

 

My 5^th grade teacher Mrs. Whitehead would spend the last 30 minutes of the day reading to the class. She read great children’s stories that I had never heard of at the time. “Charlotte’s Web”, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, “James and the Giant Peach”. My favorite story was “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Through all of the books, she increased my passion for learning and reading. She would read a chapter or two for the day, then continue every day until the book was completed. Then she moved on to the next one. After she completed each book, I would go to the library and check out the book, reading it on my own time at home.

When I found out that “Little House on the Prairie” was part of a series, I began my journey of reading all of Laura Ingalls books. I also re-read them over and over again, as well as researching about her life and watching the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” with Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert and Dean Butler.

When I was in my late 20’s, I read an article in a magazine about taking a trip and visiting all the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites/museums. Unfortunately, it was not until I was 65 years old before I had an opportunity to do part of that journey. My husband and I took a road trip and traveled to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood and much more. While planning, I noticed that we could stop in DeSmet, South Dakota on the way home. It wasn’t really that far on the way home.

As luck would have it, we were able to stay at the Prairie Manor Bed and Breakfast and found out about a yearly Pageant that was happening night. It was out on the prairie across from the Ingalls homestead. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society did a great job recreating Laura’s story. The next day we visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes and took a tour of the schoolhouse, the surveyor’s home, “Ma” and “Pa” house, as well as a walking a driving tour on Calumet Avenue in downtown De Smet.

Of course, my husband bought me the 9-book set as well as other books about the Laura Ingalls history in De Smet. One of the books was written by a young man named David W. Fields, who surprised his wife with a trip to all the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites/museums and the book was a road map. I was able to go to his fishing and hunting store in town to meet him as well as get his picture and autograph.

While talking to David about our trip, he asked where I was from. When I told him Illinois and we were heading back home, but stopping in St. Joseph, Missouri along the way to visit the Pony Express Museum. He said, “You should stop at Mansfield, Missouri and visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum as well as the Rocky Ridge farmhouse and Rock House.

Well, we did just that and it was amazing. Between the sites at De Smet and Mansfield it really added to the memories of the book and stories, as well as the history of the areas.

Here is the link to David W. Fields book:

https://www.amazon.com/Little-House-Prairie-Midwest-Road/dp/B0D5VKYVKG 

Are you a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan?  Do you like to travel and learn about American History?

Feel free to comment below: