7.25.2011

Day 7: Laura Ingalls Wilder House

Photobucket
Sunday we traveled to The Laura Ingalls Wilder House on our way to Kansas City.
(Saturday we mostly hung around the hotel with my aunt and uncle from Ohio, and did some thrifting, so no pictures to show)
Photobucket
Unfortunately there were no photos allowed inside. Too bad because her whole house was amazing. My favorite part was the kitchen. 
Photobucket
...Although I may have taken slipped my shoe off for a moment and stepped barefoot on her beautiful linoleum floor...
...may have...
Photobucket
...we even got to hear her clock chime...
Photobucket
It was raining which made it extra special. The smell of warm summer rain on Laura's land was heavenly. 
Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket
We also visited her gravesite, where a little girl had left a love note for Almanzo. 
Photobucket
If you ever get a change to make it over there, do so, they have lots of her belongings on display in the museum, and the house Laura and Almanzo built together is a dream, preserved just how she lived in it. 
Photobucket

Dress-Handmade by me

39 comments:

BakeliteBebe said...

So very special. My favorite post so far of your trip. <3

Stephanie Lynn said...

I'm super jealous! The Little House books were my favorite books growing up! Guess this means I'll have to plan my own road trip!

Dizzy Dame said...

we have driven by here but have never stopped before.. maybe next time!
and cute dress!

X said...

Lovely pics...I never read her books but I watched the TV show religiously as a kid!

www.theheadlessmannequin.blogspot.com

Michelle said...

I have always loved the little house books, and have a special place in my heart for them. It makes me so happy to see little girls are still falling in love with the people in the books. I did as well!

Amanda said...

Hi Solanah! I so enjoyed this post! I am a huge Little House fan! What an honor to tour Laura's home! You lucky girl! Thanks for sharing! Your dress is so lovely too! What a charming setting for photos! You look beautiful, as usual!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

seannaapproved said...

My sister loves Laura Ingalls Wilder. She read all her books as a child. It would be awesome to see where she lived.

If you ever come to Indiana, you'll have to check out Gene Stratton Porter's limberlost and home in Geneva.

Heather said...

How funny to see you in these vacation spots that are, well, my vacation spots too! We went to the Wilder Home last spring. I was surprised at how small the house really was in person. They were a dainty little couple werent they? And seeing Pa's fiddle...wow! If you're going to Kansas, there is also the Little House on the Prairie site in Independence, KS. its wonderful and the landscape is pretty untouched. I had imagined the real site would be under a super walmart, but luckily its not!~

So Yeah So said...

When we used to travel from my hometown to my husband's hometown outside of KC, we would pass this and I always wanted to visit. But it seemed like it was never during the open season, or we had gotten too late a start.

There's a Laura Ingalls Wilder museum very close to where I live now and I'm going to make a point of visiting it soon.

Dethrose Vintage said...

Wow! Your road trip looks so great:) You must be having a blast!

Kat said...

Oh my gosh that is just about the coolest thing ever.

Kristin said...

Lovely! I really want to visit there. I read a couple of the Little House books as a child, but a couple of months ago I reread the entire series. I also read Wendy McClure's "The Wilder Life," which was a fantastic memoir about her love for Laura Ingalls Wilder's stories and about how she traveled to the places connected to LIW, like here.

~Kristin

Unknown said...

Wonderful dress! You look fabolous :D

Love pics too!!!

http://alicecloset-sewing.blogspot.com/

Debi said...

oh wow! I love the Little House on the Prairie books....that is so great that you got to see her house! I bet that was so much fun!! Your me-made dress is fabulous :)

Q's Daydream said...

That looks amazing! Love the dress ;o)

Sacha said...

Oh, the house is just as I imagined it when I read the books about Rose.

If I ever got the chance to visit the states again, this is one of the places I would like to visit.

Greetings from Denmark :)

Emma Litton said...

How adorable! I love these pictures. I adored reading Laura's books when I was younger.

xo,
Em

Brittany_Va-VoomVintage said...

I've lived in Missouri all my life and have never been to her house. I've been dying to go back to Kansas City so when I do, I'll have to go see it. Did you go to Re-Runs Vintage while you were in Kansas City? If not, you must shop there if you ever come back to the midwest! x

Christina said...

I love reading about your vacation--I live in Springfield, MO. I love the Ozarks, and I am glad to call them my home :)

Love love love your dress, by the way!

Christina

Victoria / Justice Pirate said...

awww. I read through all of the books at the end of last year/beginning of this year, so this is adorable to see her actual home built with the love of her life. how adorable. Thanks for posting them. I laughed at the cute little note. aw. Your dress is amazing.

Heichelbech-Weill Genealogy said...

I hope to go there some day. I'm named after Laura and her daughter and have read the books so many times! Glad to know her house is well kept!

sarah said...

Oh, lovely! I grew up reading her books, and absolutely LOVED them. Thank you so much for giving us a little peek into your visit to her home! You look beautiful, too!

Amber said...

that must have been amazing to get to explore her home. Shame you could take pics though, I would love to see what the inside looked like.

Sparkleneely said...

Oh! Someone mentioned it above, but you MUST read this! http://www.powells.com/biblio/18-9781594487804-0

You look darling as always.

Nelly said...

I love Laura things (my 2nd daughter has that name too) I think it ssad that her home wasnt able to be handed down as I believe her daughter never had children.Do you follow this blog?http://maingalls.blogspot.com/

gleeps said...

I squealed when I saw this post! I am a card-carrying member of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Fan Club and was thrilled to visit Rocky Ridge back in the early 90s. The kitchen was my favorite part of the house as well. Didn't you love the way Almanzo customized the cabinets, drawers, and workspace to make them low enough for the tiny Laura to reach? (Pa called her Half-Pint for good reason!) Will you travel to DeSmet, SD on your trip? Lots of wonderful sights to see there in "The Little Town on the Prairie". What a wonderful trip you're having.

Leslie Dill said...

I hope you get a chance to visit Donna's Dress Shop in Kansas City! It's adorable!

The Zany Housewife said...

Wow, how neat! I'm so jealous. I love the Little House books and would love to see her house someday. I'll have to add that to my bucket list. :)

The Witchery Vintage said...

First of all, love the dress! You are so talented. Second, I didn't realize Laura Ingalls Wilder lived into the 1950s. I love watching the TV show and read all her books too! xoo

Katie said...

I love her books and have read them many times since I was a child. Last summer I drove out to De Smet, SD to see the Wilder home there. The land is gorgeous and it is well worth the price of admission to see. I highly recommend it as you drive back home. Sadly, even though I'm within driving distance of most of the places her family lived, I've only been to the one.

Rebeccak said...

I love that dress! Pink and red are so great together. What an amazing place!

Casey Maura said...

I have read the Little House series more times than I can count--so seeing Laura's house is one of my dreams! :) So neat you got to tour it and wander around the property!

Erin Goodman said...

I haven't had the privilege of reading any of her stories but I think I might have to go to the library now :) I adore your dress, I have to get some more patterns myself. The house looks so pretty and the scenery is so green!

http://mymothersdiamondring.blogspot.com

Maria Ramona said...

i devoured all those little house books as a girl-- that is awesome you got to check out her house (looking rather lovely as per usual, i might add!)

Rachel said...

The note the little girl left is so precious! The house looks like a wonderful place to visit.

Lauren E Thompson said...

wow, how amazing. i read every one of her books as a child and treasured ever single word.

nina-im-wunderland said...

the dress is perfect. i was really impressed when i saw that you made it yourself. the things i sew for myself always look different =)

The BUTT'RY and BOOK'RY said...

Hi Solanah,
I came over from Heather's Blog and must say I have had a delightful visit! I dream and plan to visit there one day!
Blessings Linnie

Colleen said...

Oh my gosh! I would love to go there. I devoured all her books as a child. That's so funny a little girl left Almanzo a note - he was a total fox!