Little House on the Prairie Lives on at Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Charlotte Stewart

Many people are familiar with the name of Laura Ingalls Wilder. This authors books inspired the “Little House on the Prairie” TV series. She came from a poor pioneer family that moved - a lot - so seven US states have museums dedicated to her. 

One interesting one is the interactive outdoor museum at Walnut Grove - Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. Here people can enjoy learning the history of the Ingalls family. The museum's collections are housed in a series of interesting buildings, including an 1898 depot, a chapel, an onion-domed house, dugout display, little red schoolhouse, early settler home, and covered wagon display. Also on display are memorabilia from visits by the following stars from the "Little House on the Prairie" TV series:

    ●  Karen Grassle (Ma)
    ●   Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary)
    ●  Katherine McGregor (Mrs. Oleson)
    ●  Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson)
    ●  Kevin Hagen (Doc Baker)
    ●  Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder)
    ●   Lindsay & Sidney Greenbush (Carrie)

Another feature of Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum is the Kelton Doll Collection, including over 250 dolls from the 1870's to modern times.  This colorful exhibit represents Beulah Kelton's lifelong passion.  A wide selection of books, souvenirs, bonnets, aprons, and locally hand-crafted items are available in the Gift Store. Other exhibits include

    ●  Quilt owned by Laura and her daughter Rose
    ●  Bible from the church the Ingalls attended
    ●  Scale models of Ingalls TV series homes
    ●  Historic documents - letters, photos, articles

Children can play shopkeeper or scrub clothes on a washboard in the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum located at Walnut Grove, Minnesota, where the family lived in the 1870s.

Alison Arngrim

TV Stars Coming to Walnut Grove this year include Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson)   July 20-22, 2012 and Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle)  July 14-15, 2012 They will be available for photos and signing autographs.

The Wilder Pageant will be held on July 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 2012. Features will include:

- Fireworks on July 6 following the Pageant.
- Outdoor drama based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder
- 9:00 pm live performance each night

For further information see the website http://www.walnutgrove.org/index.html