Keeping up w/LIW Historic Home and Museum

From Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum:


There are many details and ongoing projects underway to finish needed work on the new museum building at Rocky Ridge Farm. One of them is the installation of a handsome sign. The photo shows Highway A, formerly known as Highway 60. The building to the left is a rock house built by the Wilders in 1928, for use as a tenant home. On the hill, you see the Wilder farm house. With good weather, this week will bring installation of a parking lot in front of the museum. For a while, it seemed that we could not afford a safe and clean-cut parking area; the Association was without funds to proceed. To the rescue came our good friends and supporters from Wisconsin, the Meade family. Siblings David Meade and Marilyn Meade contributed funds to enable construction of a parking lot, sooner rather than later. The Meades made this and an earlier gift in memory of their dear mother, Charlotte, an avid reader and admirer of the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Association is very grateful indeed for this generous help.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum

Friday, April 22 is the dedication day of the new Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum at Rocky Ridge Farm! Tours of the new facility, the Wilder Home and the Rock House will be offered as usual, and from 2-4 p.m. this momentous official opening will be celebrated. There will be music--Pa's fiddle will be played--a ribbon cutting, comments, and special appearances of those close to the project. This is your invitation. Do join us on this day when new history will be made at the home of the Wilder family.

I wish I was close enough to go!

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum

"The question has been asked: does the Wilder Home have a bookstore/giftshop? Yes, we do, and mail orders are available. Check out www.lauraingallswilderhome.com to learn all about the books, souvenirs, clothing, DVDs and CDs--and more--available for Little House readers."

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum

We are a week away from Dedication Day of the new museum on Rocky Ridge Farm, home of the Wilders. Friday, April 22 is the date, from 2-4. There will be a ribbon cutting at the entrance and a program in the tent on the grounds. Pam Smith Hill will speak, Pa's fiddle will be played, and other remarks will be made. There is no charge for this program. 2016 rates for the Rocky Ridge Farm experience are: $14 per adult (18 and over); $7 per child (6-14;.under 6, no charge. This entitles visitors to unlimited time in the museum, an orientation film, a guided tour of the Wilder house, a guided tour of the Rock House, use of the trails,viewing the operating hen house; the orchard, the ravine and the Ozark scenery Laura and Almanzo so loved.

Would love to visit here some day! Have always been meaning to do a LIW pilgrimage.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum

"A beautiful parking lot and pathway to the historic Wilder home! This was enabled by a gift from the Meades, in memory of their mother. We appreciate all the donors who helped make this museum a reality."

TODAY IS THE DAY! I am on my way over to hopefully enjoy some Laura Ingalls Wider History. I say, 'hopefully' because it is FULL springtime here in the Ozarks, and all the pollen and mold count is ridiculously high, and I have had the worst headache for the past 3 days from all the pressure. I go to bed with a headache and wake up with it. I'm not sure how long I'll stay; it is only for 2 hours, but with the bright sun and wind out, that will determine my visit. I sure wish more of you were closer so we could meet each other and enjoy the bond that we all have through this marvelous woman! Wish me luck!

Rhonda wrote:

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum

We are a week away from Dedication Day of the new museum on Rocky Ridge Farm, home of the Wilders. Friday, April 22 is the date, from 2-4. There will be a ribbon cutting at the entrance and a program in the tent on the grounds. Pam Smith Hill will speak, Pa's fiddle will be played, and other remarks will be made. There is no charge for this program. 2016 rates for the Rocky Ridge Farm experience are: $14 per adult (18 and over); $7 per child (6-14;.under 6, no charge. This entitles visitors to unlimited time in the museum, an orientation film, a guided tour of the Wilder house, a guided tour of the Rock House, use of the trails,viewing the operating hen house; the orchard, the ravine and the Ozark scenery Laura and Almanzo so loved.

Sounds like a lot of fun! I wish I could have gone!

I MADE IT! I MADE IT!  I will be posting my adventure soon, I hope......along with pictures.....

Please do! I can't wait to hear how it was!

Why do I keep looking for the "like" button???
Rhonda, we can't wait to hear about your time on Saturday. I have some other friends who make it there too so between all of you, I can feel a little like I was there too.

VERY nice, thanks for sharing all the pictures, Rhonda!

So glad you got to go. Thanks for sharing.

Rhonda, what will they do with the old museum?

LIWnut wrote:

Rhonda, what will they do with the old museum?

OH, I meant to post that in the original post....They say they are eventually going to tear it down and use the land in the way Laura and Almanzo had used it; maybe they had a garden there, not sure. They are wanting to make the main Rocky Ridge Farm as close to the way it was when the Wilders' lived there as they can.

A naughty visitor disobeyed the no video rule and filmed inside the museum.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum:

"Here is a nice summary of the dedication ceremony at the new Wilder Museum. Thanks for KSMU for such good coverage."

Click here----> New Museum Showcases Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum


Eleven species of native wildflowers and four of native grasses have been planted in front of the new museum building. Bulk of the labor was donated by the Vocational-Ag students from Mansfield High School. We are appreciative of their support. Now a final planting is needed to finish this project, which will be a great finishing touch for the museum. Labor costs are $30 per hour, and more plants need to be purchased. Does anyone have an interest in helping to "adopt" this project? Any contributions will be so helpful. If you can, please mark your contribution as designated for the "Museum Landscape Project".

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum:

"The former curators' home, built in 1963 with help from Rose Wilder Lane, has been removed. This structure most recently served as bookstore and office space, which are now moved to the new museum. This demolition is a first step in returning the Wilder home locale to its original appearance. Thanks to board member Tim Hancock for donating services to make this positive development possible. The smaller storage unit will also be removed."




"There are often admiring comments on the red maple tree. It was grown from seed on Rose Wilder Lane's property in Danbury, CT. In 1963 the seedling was moved and planted on this spot. Removal of the curators' home showcases the tree to better advantage. Although Mrs. Lane sent more vegetation for transplanting, this is the only known surviving example."

That looks so much nicer! Are they planning on removing the old museum too?

And what is that building that looks kind of like a shed in that picture?

Now I need to go back and see it again now that they are bringing it back to be more like it was when Laura was there!

I'm not sure what they will do with the old museum.....I am assuming they will tear it down as well. It sits right next to the farm house. It might be used for storage right now. That shed is coming down as well, as stated in the post above. When I was there for the grand opening of the new museum, they mentioned taking the former curators' home down. Also mentioned planting apple trees where the original orchard once was. Many trees had been planted when I was there.

I'm really glad they are doing this!

How cool is this?  Laura's Rock House voted home of the week from the newspaper in Springfield, MO!  
Read here----> News Article

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum:

'A hearty thanks to the Springfield NEWS-LEADER for taking these amazing photos of the Rock House! It was just about 88 years ago that the construction project was coming to a close on this architectural treasure.'