She may have influenced more American school girls than any other writer in history - Laura Ingalls Wilder.
It had been a long time since I'd read the Little House books, so I visited the children's library and checked out some well-worn copies. Isn't it heartwarming to know children are still discovering Laura's adventures?
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| Laura Ingalls Wilder home where she wrote her books. |
Just saying her name brings a smile and sweet memories.
This summer, a friend and I decided to visit her home - Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Mo. Laura and her husband Almanzo moved to Missouri in 1894 and there she penned all of the Little House books. It is now a beautiful museum.
It had been a long time since I'd read the Little House books, so I visited the children's library and checked out some well-worn copies. Isn't it heartwarming to know children are still discovering Laura's adventures?
Laura's home - built by hand by Almanzo - is a charming place. It was easy to imagine sitting on the front porch in the shade of the trees and dreaming of life on the prairie.
The interpretive center is filled with wonderful artifacts and the feature attraction is Pa's fiddle. His actual fiddle that played all those tunes in all those little houses on the frontier! No photos were allowed, but it was very neat to see.
As a writer, I was particularly fascinated by the handwritten manuscripts penciled in a school tablet.
As I reflect on the enduring nature of the Little House books, I marvel that it's not a make-believe story that has touched us - it is Laura's simple, true story about her life. I am convinced that the most important story any of us can write is our own. Most likely it will never propel us to star status, but there is an intimacy in passing down on our life story. I've never met Laura Ingalls Wilder, and yet I feel like I know her and stepping inside her home - and opening up the cover of her book - is like visiting a friend.
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| On the steps of the stone house Rose Wilder Lane built for her folks on the farm. |
The trip was both fun and inspiring. If you're ever in the Missouri Ozarks near Springfield, I recommend stopping by.
~ Susan Mires
Do you have memories of the Little House books?
I've had the opportunity to visit here and I would LOVE to go again. Hope to one day! Loved your post.
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Wonderful post. I love to visit the home of an author. Have you visited the homes of any other authors? Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteReading the Little House on the Prairie books and watching the TV show as a kid stirred in me a desire to write about that era.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos.
Loved the books, and the TV series. Thanks for taking us on a tour of her home.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, my sister and I were required to watch the show every week. What stitches them together is conservative Christian values. I wonder how successful it would be today?
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Susie! I visited there quite some time ago with a writing friend. She wrote a travel article about it. I also have fond memories of playing "Laura and Mary" when I was a girl. (I was always Laura. :) ) My kids and I visited Mark Twain's home too. Ahh, the benefits of homeschooling. Field Trips!
ReplyDeleteSusan, visiting Mansfield and the Wilders' home is at the top of my dream trips. I've read through the Little House books with my kids more than once and have several other books about her. Thanks for sharing this. It was fun visiting through you.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a place I'd like to see myself. :) Thanks for sharing, Susan.
ReplyDeleteI've visted there twice. On the first visit Laura's friends were still aive and giving the tours. It was neat to hear their personal recollections. The window shades were open and you could move around the room. The second time we took our daughter, who loved the books as much as I did. The blinds were drawn and the tour more restrictive than before. It is still a great place to visit.
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