Visiting the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder - Author of the Little House on the Prarie

This past week I have been traveling with my husband @jonny-clearwater to a small, teeny tiny town outside of Springfield Missouri. The reason for our travel here was to film some episodes for his steemit exclusive show Hots or Shots . When I was doing some research on the area I discovered that one of my favorite authors as a child had a home in Missouri close to where we would be staying. The home is now a museum (I am no stalker), so I insisted this be one stop on our trip.

Laura Ingalls Wilder was my favorite author when I was a young girl. I loved her books on pioneer life and simpler days out on the prairie. Her writings were the basis for the popular TV show Little House on the Prairie . I never really watched the TV show, but I read every one of her books. Some maybe twice.

(photo taken from lauraingallswilderhome.com)

Laura Ingalls Wilder was born on Feb. 7, 1867 near Pepin, Wisconsin. She died at the age of 90 in Mansfield Missouri. Her books are all based on her life and adventures as a child growing up a pioneer of the mid west and homesteading. Laura Ingalls Wilder was encouraged by her only daughter Rose to write about her life. She felt there was great stories to be told. Laura listened to her daughter, and began writing when she was 65 years old.

The home in Mansfield Missouri that we toured previously sat on 200 acres that the Wilders names The Rocky Ridge Farm

It was dreary in MO. when we visited, but I am sure this same view in the Spring and Summer looks lovely when the trees and flowers are full of color and life.

~Home built by the Wilders

The home was small and cozy. Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband Almanzo Wilder built this home with their own hands. There was a small kitchen with a woodburning stove. Their daughter Rose eventually bought her parents a new electric stove and refrigerator, but only after she paid $3000 to have an electric line run to their home from the nearest major city. I was impressed with this fact, as that sum was a very large amount back then. I was told that people would come by the Rock House on the farm just to see it because most people in the area did not even get electricity until the 1940's!

~Sign outside the Rock House

~Back side of sign outside of the Rock House

The Rock House was actually a home design produced from the Sears catalogue. You used to be able to purchase home floor plans and kits right out of a Sears catalogue. Rose Wilder had the Rock House built as a retirement home for her parents. She made sure it had electricity and running water. Her parents lived there for a few years but ended up moving back into their other home on the property that they built with their own hands. It felt more like home. The Rock House is actually where Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing her books. This is the home where it all the fantastic stories about her life were finally written down for future generations to enjoy.

The Rock House was a beautiful little cottage. I would have loved to live there.

I was glad we got to stop by this museum and tour the homes. I enjoy touring historic places when I travel and learning about a time period in life that came before me. The fact that this was my favorite child hood author was extra special.

Thanks for reading about my visit to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.

Please be on the look out every Thursday for a new episode of Hots or Shots
with @jonny-clearwater

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