I loved the “Little House” series when I was a kid. I read and reread those books voraciously. So you can imagine how happy I was when the family took a road trip to Mansfield, Missouri to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum. I was ecstatic.
Now, about a decade or so later, I made the trip back to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home, and very little has changed. I still love the books and still fan-girled over the museum. If you also loved the “Little House” book series and are aching to make a visit, read on!
Visiting Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum
About the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum
The museum in Mansfield actually consists of two homes; the original home where she and her husband Almanzo settled into, and the “Rock House” on Rocky Ridge Farm built for the couple by their daughter, Rose.
The Rock House was ordered via catalogue and designed to make Laura’s life as simple as possible. Perhaps the easier living is what led to the books, since that was where Laura’s writing began.
How to Get to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum
Most folks find Laura’s home from Springfield during their Branson vacation. It’ll take about an hour on US 60 E.
Getting Your Tickets
You purchase your tickets to enter the homes at the museum. This is a great place to start, since there are so many of Laura’s treasures on display. Including but not limited to… Pa’s fiddle.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Home
No photos are allowed inside this precious space, but trust me, I was in my element. You tour the entire first floor (the second floor is off-limits) which includes the kitchen, sitting room, master bedroom and bathroom, office and library. Nearly everything you see is original to the home. It’s spellbinding.
The Rock House on Rocky Ridge Farm
The Rock House is slightly more modern and feels a bit less personal than the original home. Maybe that’s because it was eventually sold when Laura and Almanzo moved back, but who knows. I still enjoyed my visit since it’s fun to see what a house ordered from a catalogue looks like fully assembled.
Some Insight into the Homes
So while I can’t take you inside the home with me, I can share the brochures of each home with you. It’s not quite the same, but does provide a little glimpse into each space.
What to know before you go
- 3060 State Hwy A, Mansfield, MO 65704
- (417) 924-3626
- Open March 1 – November 15
- $18 for admission
- More information
Did this post inspire you to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum? Let me know down below!
Pin visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum!
Safe travels!
-Maggie
