Laura Ingalls Wilder's Home in Mansfield, Missouri

Little House on the Prairie was my favorite tv series when I was growing up. I still love to watch the reruns. A few years ago I read the complete series and loved it as much as the tv series. We live a few hours from Laura and Almonzo's last home in Mansfield, Missouri.  For years I have wanted to visit and I finally got my wish in September 2019.  

Sign next to the main house

View of main house from road

The most amazing part of the house is that after Laura passed away Rose closed the door and left everything exactly how it had been.  When she donated it to be a museum it still looked the same as the day she Laura passed away.  There were only a few pieces in the house that were not original and that was due to things like the flooring needing to be replaced.  They built the house one room at a time as they could afford it.  

Back of main house facing museum

Sign when approaching the Rock House

The Rock House built by their daughter Rose

The Rock House was built based on plans ordered through the Sears catalog.  The ladies working in the houses are full of interesting information about Laura, Almonzo, and Rose and their time at Rocky Ridge Farm. The view from this house is amazing.  It is set back away from the main road.

Sign when leaving the Rock House

Museum & Gift Shop

The museum and gift shop is where you buy the tickets for the house tours.  I highly recommend driving to the museum and then driving back to the main house if you have any difficulty walking.  The museum is amazing.  It is mostly related to her life, family, and books but there are a few pieces from the tv series also.  The gift shop is full of fun things and some books that are harder to find elsewhere.

If you are ever in Missouri, I highly recommend a visit to Mansfield, Missouri for visit Laura Ingalls Wilder's home and museum. 

The book below was a birthday gift from my daughter, Bethany, this year.  It is a very old copy of Little House in the Big Woods.  I think it may be a first edition from the information I can find on the internet.  After a visit to the museum, I'm almost positive it is a first edition because they had one that looked just like this one in a case in the museum.

Early edition of Little House in the Big Woods...possibly a first edition

The quilt was handmade by my Granny