Laura's Home

"Then pa looked straight at Laura and said, 'You girls keep away from the camp. When you go walking, don't go near where the men are working, and you be sure you're back here before they come in for the night. There's all kinds of rough men working on the grade and using rough language, and the less you see and hear of them the better. Now remember, Laura. And you too, Carrie. 'Pa's face was very serious.

'Yes, Pa' Laura promised, and Carrie almost whispered, 'Yes, Pa.' Carries eyes were large and frightened. She did not want to hear rough language,whatever rough language might be. Laura would have liked to hear some, just once, but of course she must obey Pa."

- Laura Ingalls Wilder (By the Shores of Silver Lake)

I spent my early years reading Laura's collection of memories in the "Little House" series over and over and over. I would say that she was probably one of the most significant influences on my thinking as a child, probably because I had quite a bit in common with her.

Recently on our family vacation, we were able to tour Laura's home in Missouri. This was her home until the day she died, the place she lived with her husband Almanzo and her daughter Rose; this was the place that she sat and wrote by hand all of her memories as a story for children at the insistence of Rose, who had already become a prominent author by that time.

There is something about Laura that speaks to us all. If we didn't grow up with her voice in our head as we read, then we saw the television series based on the books (very loosely based on the books) or we at least knew something basic about the little woman who grew up as a pioneer. But I thought of Laura as a dear friend. I think that was her intention when she sat down to write her stories.

So my daughter Spirit and I were elated to explore her home and the museum that housed the collection of her belongings, many straight from the pages of her books. We were captivated by the sight of Pa's fiddle, the "Give us this day our daily bread" plate that was saved from the fire that destroyed their home, the many pictures of their family and other mementos that meant something to anyone who was touched by her delightfully descriptive words in her books.

If you are ever in Mansfield, Missouri you must take some time out to see Laura's home and memories. Here are a few pictures for those who are unable to see it themselves.

"We'd never get anything fixed to suit us if we waited for things to suit us before we started."  -Laura Ingalls Wilder 

Laura Ingalls Wilder Home website