Part 1: Introduction to the Series, information about Laura
Part 2: The books!
Part 3: Dress like Laura
Part 4: Places to visit to have that "Laura Experience"
Part 5: Cook like Laura
Part 6: Other books you might enjoy
Over Spring Break though I took it a step further and visited Mansfield, MO which was the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo once they got married and was where the Little House Books were actually written. There is a home tour a museum that had Pa's FIDDLE!!! I know right, the ACTUAL fiddle that Laura referred to so lovingly in her books. You could take pictures inside the museum but I did get a few pictures of her house.
You can see the three littles playing here around her home. This is the home in Mansfield, MO that started out as just the small piece on the very left and the built onto through the years. You can take a tour of the home that still has many pieces from her. I was like a kid in a candy store. It was so neat getting to feel so close to your favorite author. 
Just another view of the home. I liked the stone fireplace. 
The back of the house. It looks out into the woods. 
Not a good picture at all, but a pic of me and my Dad enjoying the tour. It was worth the drive, and worth the very nominal fee that they charged. I would highly recommend to any Laura fan to put this on their to do list!
They have a gift shop/bookstore on site and I purchased several items, a tshirt, some other books ( there was a subsequent series written about Laura and Almanzo's daughter Rose, that takes place while she was growing up in Mansfield, that I purchased and read and enjoyed for that matter.
You can shop online as well as the following link. Shop from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Bookstore
There isn't a ton to eat around, so bring a picnic or eat before you go. The little town of Mansfield has a very small statue/bust of Laura in the city park which we went to and let the kids stretch their legs.
They also have the cemetery where she and Almanzo are buried if you are so inclined.
Until next time,
Happy Homesteading Ya'll
How cool is that?! What a great way to enjoy one of the country's most influential women!
ReplyDeleteIt really was so fun for my whole family. We had three generations there ( my parents, me and my husband and our kids) and all really enjoyed it.
DeleteHow cool! I didn't even know that existed! I used to LOVE reading the books when I was younger!
ReplyDeleteYou would probably enjoying reading them again as a grown up! You should pick up a few from the library and give it a go. Quick, fun read.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this with us on the #ChainLinkCLIMB (bloghop) - I liked this post so much that I shared it on google+.
ReplyDeleteThank you & have a great day!
Angie
http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2015/03/april-2015-chain-linky-climb-blog-hop.html
Thank you so much for sharing, glad you enjoyed!
DeleteThis is nowhere near what I imagined her house to look like!!! I loved every one of those books and it was in reading those boooks that my book reading imagination took off!
ReplyDeleteOh I know, her books really gave me that extra boost to read when I was small. I'm still an avid reader myself. The inside of her home ( no photos allowed) was amazing. Some of her prized china and this beautiful throw she had made was still on her couch. Almanzo's shaving kit was still on the nightstand. It was really a remarkable tour.
Delete