Laura Ingalls Wilder House, Mansfield, Missouri (aka Rocky Ridge Farm)
This video is about our visit to the Laura Ingalls Wilder House in 2013.
Interview with Jean Coday, Director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum, Mansfield, MO
Pamela Smith Hill interviews Jean Coday, the director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum Association in Mansfield, MO.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Want more Wilder? Sign up for our next course now, starting April 6, 2015:
Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, MO #2
At the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum in Mansfield, Missouri, you can see Pa's fiddle and so much more!
Ozarks Voices: Jean Coday, Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association, July 21, 2014
Interview with Jean Coday, President of HomePride Bank and President of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association, by Missouri State University Dean of Libraries Tom Peters. Interview took place at Rocky Ridge Farm (where Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House book series) just east of Mansfield, Missouri, on July 21, 2014.
Topics discussed include Laura Ingalls Wilder, Almanzo Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, Roger MacBride, Abigail MacBride Allen, Rocky Ridge Farm, Mansfield (Mo.), HomePride Bank, Bank of Mansfield, the Little House book series, Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association, Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum, Little House Heritage Trust, and Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography.
Laura Ingalls Wilder was known for the Little House on the Prairie series
New Laura Ingalls Wilder museum opens in Mansfield Missouri
The brand new, $1.5 million Laura Ingalls Wilder museum and library was many years in the making. The original Laura Ingalls Wilder museum opened in 1971, next to the Mansfield home where Wilder wrote her famous Little House on the Prairie books.
Since the opening of that first museum, the dream has been to build a bigger, newer facility. Today, that dream comes to fruition.
I hope that children will be coming to see this a hundred years from now. And now we have a building, that can happen, says Jean Coday, director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association.
Sandra Hume drove down from Colorado to be here for the ribbon cutting. She is a life-long fan of the author.
I'm a child of the TV show, so I did watch that until my sister gave me the book series when I was about 9, and then that was it for me, they were my comfort books growing up. says Hume.
The new museum features a video room, and a wide variety of artifacts are on display.
Visitors can see Wilder's original hand written manuscripts, her type-writer and desk, and Pa's fiddle (the beloved musical instrument so familiar to readers of the books.)
Hume says she's impressed by the quality of the museum's design, I love how it's organized by the book, by each book as she's written it. The displays are really well done, it's pretty exciting to look around and see this.
Of course there's also a book store, where new generations can discover the tales of adventure on the prairie which have captivated so many readers.
By Drew Douglas
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Wilder Days - 2011 | Sept. 16-17 | Mansfield, Missouri
Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House Books at Rocky Ridge Farm. Wilder Days is an annual celebration of Laura and her family's history. The farm has a wonderful museum and tours of her home. Event has activities for families, vendors and hospitality. Sponsored by the Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce in Mansfield, Missouri.
Following the Trail of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little Houses
On the 2nd weekend of July 2013, we followed the trail of Laura Ingalls, by visiting her birth place, The Little House in the Big Woods, at Pepin WI. Then we headed west to Walnut Grove MN, and the Dugout House on Plum Creek. Finally on to De Smet SD to the Little House on the Prairie, and the 160 acre homestead. We saw some American History, and had a nice camping experience.
This video is a very short, compared to the weekend, summary of where we went and what we saw.
In March of 2014 we visited Mansfield MO to see Rocky Ridge Farm, that video may be viewed at:
Things to See in Mansfield Missouri
The top four sights in Mansfield Missouri as rated by me
Where the West Begins (Part One)
Pamela Smith Hill explores the Ingalls’ lives in Dakota Territory, which became the basis for Wilder’s later 'Little House' books.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Want more Wilder? Sign up for our next course now, starting April 6, 2015:
Where the West Begins (Part Two)
Pamela Smith Hill studies Wilder's early writing and inspirations.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Want more Wilder? Sign up for our next course now, starting April 6, 2015:
Laura Ingalls Wilder: To Go On From Here (Part 1)
In this lecture, Pamela Smith Hill continues where the 'Little House' series left off, giving biographical detail on Wilder’s friends and family, including Pa, Ma, Almanzo, and Wilder’s sisters, and briefly discusses Wilder’s literary legacy.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Learn more about MSU's massive online offerings here:
Plum Creek and the Missing Years
Pamela Smith Hill focuses on the Ingalls family from 1876-1878, after the Ingalls leave Minnesota for Burr Oak, Iowa, to help run a hotel.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Want more Wilder? Sign up for our next course now, starting April 6, 2015:
The Real Laura Ingalls of Little House on the Prairie
My Girl Hero Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my favorite writers, not just because her stories are so interesting to read but because many of the events she describes really happened to her.
Laura Ingalls was born on February 7, 1867 just outside of the little village of Pepin, Wisconsin. She was the second oldest of her parent's four surviving children, all of which were girls.
Laura's parents were pioneers heading west, just one of thousands of families encouraged by the US government to set up homesteads on lands that had belonged to Native American tribes.
So, through most of her childhood, her family moved A LOT.
Beginning in Wisconsin,
they moved to Missouri,
then Kansas,
then back to Wisconsin,
then Minnesota,
then Iowa,
then back to Minnesota,
then to the Dakota Territories
Then they finally settled down in South Dakota. (show lines on map on iphone?)
Phew!
You practically need an app to keep up.
When she was 18, Laura Ingalls married Almanzo Wilder. When they first settled down, the future looked promising but her life grew hard. Almanzo became ill, family deaths and terrible fires took their toll and the young family's finances began to fail.
So once again in Laura's life, she went on the move. Laura, Almanzo and their daughter, Rose, finally settled in Mansfield, Missouri and this is where her writing career began.
Laura worked as a writer and editor for a local newspaper and developed a loyal readership who enjoyed her stories of home and family life, travel adventures and the expanding options for women of the times. At the same time, Rose, now grown-up and travelling the world had become a well known writer on her own.
Rose encouraged her mother to expand on the stories she had already begun work on based on her pioneer childhood but it wasn't until the legendary stock market crash in 1929 that publishing the stories became urgent.
You see, Laura and her husband lost most of their money at the beginning of the Great Depression. Millions of people were out of work, farms were drying up and times were bad for everyone. With Rose's experience in publishing, Laura was able to quickly improve her stories and find a publisher.
And I am am so glad she did. I love the Little House books and so do millions of others around the world.
Ever since the her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932, Laura's books have never stopped being printed and have been translated into 40 languages.
Laura Ingalls Wilder lived to the grand old age of 90 but she will forever live on in my imagination as little Laura Ingalls.
Thank you, Laura!
Image and Sound Attributions
Rocky Ridge Farm, Mansfield, Missouri By TimothyMN - CC BY-SA 3.0,
Gravesite of Laura Ingalls Wilder and husband Almanzo Wilder at Mansfield Cemetery, Mansfield, Missouri. Buried next to them is daughter Rose Wilder Lane. By Julie Jordan Scott - CC BY 2.0,
Map of the United States of America 1845 courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center used under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Little House Wayside - Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Aaron Carlson used under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
State of Wisconsin 1886 courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center used under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
iPhone by World Super Cars at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Little House on the prarie book image by m01229 used under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Entrance to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota image By Scott Catron (English Wikipedia [1]) [GFDL ( or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Rag Dolls used under CC0-Public Domain (
Corn Husk Doll By John Morgan (Flickr: Palm Doll) [CC BY 2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Pioneer Girl, Helping Mom, Oak Glen, Ca 5-2008 by Don Graham used under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Rocket sound by Cydon used under the Creative Commons License
Tardis By Edjoerv (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Went to Mansfield Missouri. Wonderful town.
Mansfield Missouri
'Little House on the Prairie': Historical Perspectives (Part Two)
Pamela Smith Hill discusses Laura Ingalls Wilder’s research and creative interpretations of characters in 'Little House on the Prairie', as well as the controversies surrounding the settlement of Indian Territory in Kansas.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Want more Wilder? Sign up for our next course now, starting April 6, 2015:
Pioneer Girl (Part Two)
Pamela Smith Hill continues her focus on Pioneer Girl, including motivations, editorial work, and possible publication for the manuscript.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Want more Wilder? Sign up for our next course now, starting April 6, 2015:
Laura Ingalls Wilder: Rockstar
In this, the final lecture of our class, Pamela Smith Hill explains the possible reasons behind the enduring popularity of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s fiction and life.
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Learn more about MSU's massive online offerings here:
10 Minute Tourist: Little House on the Prairie Sites, Independence and Mansfield
Here are two more sites from the Little House books: Independence, Kansas, where the book, Little House on the Prairie takes place, and Mansfield, Missouri, where the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder can be found (later in life when she wrote the books). Search under 10 Minute Tourist, Little House sites, to find the video of the other locations related to the books.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Day 2011.wmv
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days
Dates: July 30-31
Time: 10am-4:30pm
Cost: $9 adults, $8 senior citizens and $7 for children 5-17, those 4 and under are free. Heritage Hill Members FREE.
For Laura Ingalls Wilder, the tall trees of Pepin, Wisconsin were her first memories and were recorded within the pages of the Little House series of books. The popularity of the books also prompted a television series, Little House on the Prairie.
On July 30-31 at Heritage Hill State Historical Park, Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House books will come to life. Activities from Laura's books include: chores on the farm, historical games, and a school lesson. Demonstrations include: bullet making, blacksmithing and historical meal preparation.
Boys and girls are invited to dress as their favorite Little House character and join us at noon for the Children's Fashion Promenade, fiddle music and costume contest.
Making a guest appearance this year is Charlotte Stewart who portrayed Miss Beadle on the Little House on the Prairie television series. Join Miss Beadle for a Spelling Bee and Reader's Theatre followed by a question and answer session. Returning to Heritage Hill for his fourth Laura Ingalls Wilder Days is author and historian, William Anderson. He has spent many years researching and writing about the people and places of the Little House books.
Charlotte Stewart and William Anderson will be available for autographs from 1:00-3:00 PM. Autograph items will be limited to photos and published works available for purchase in the Heritage Hill Gift Shop and General Store. Also available for purchase and autographs are the popular Beadle Bags, hand-sewn by Charlotte. A portion of the bags proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Please check our website heritagehillgb.org for updates on all activities.
Pioneer Girl (Part One)
Pamela Smith Hill recounts Laura Ingalls Wilder’s writing of 'Pioneer Girl' and her columns for the 'Missouri Ruralist.'
This video is part of Missouri State University's massive online collection. Want more Wilder? Sign up for our next course now, starting April 6, 2015: