Little House on the Prairie captured the hearts of many both as children and as adults. The show is based on the well-loved series of nine books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder herself, which were based on her childhood growing up during 1870. While the books and their dialogue has shared its fair share of criticism over recent years, the museum dedicated to them maintains the same stance: To preserve the life of an early pioneer family in the wilderness that once was early America.
Fans of both the books and the movies can expect an array of exhibits, arguably the most important of them being the log cabin in which Laura and her family lived for quite some time as they were starting their pioneer lives. The cabin that visitors will see is not the actual home of the Ingalls family (that has since been reclaimed by time and nature) but it is a nearly exact replica of the home as described by Laura in her stories. The reconstruction was first built in 1977 and still stands today with its original construction and period-accurate staging. The museum is also home to a store and these aren't the only things that visitors can expect when visiting this historical destination in Independence, Kansas.
Welcome To The Prairie
According to the Museum's website, its mission 'is to encourage a love of reading, Kansas history, the Kansas Prairie, and help keep the memory of Laura Ingalls Wilder alive through the preservation of the Kansas homestead site of the Charles Ingalls family.' This is certainly a mission that has been achieved as visitors will undoubtedly feel as though they're walking through the outskirts of what was once Walnut Grove. It's easy to imagine the Ingalls family living there regardless of whether or not visitors have seen the inspired show, as everything has been meticulously maintained and constructed in late-1800s architectural style.
Proceeds from the museum go back into preserving and keeping alive the history of the early pioneers as they created their home on the Kansas plains, as it's also the former birthplace of the youngest Ingalls daughter, Carrie. The Ingalls family cabin is the main attraction of the museum and consists of one room with a bed in the back corner, a small space for a kitchen, and a stunning view of the Kansas fields that seem to stretch forever - a sight that the Ingalls family likely would have seen every day.
The key to discovering the sight of the original Ingalls home was actually found a short walk from the reconstructed house - the hand-dug well. Charles Ingalls dug the well with help from a neighbor, Mr. Scott, and it's now labeled as such in the outdoor exhibit. The well, still in its original condition, has not changed much over the years but remains a crucial part of both the homestead and pioneer life.
The Wayside Post Office is also open to visitors but was constructed in 1885 after the Ingalls family had already moved onto their next destination. However, it still stands as a significant part of town history due to the fact that it served the community well from the late 1800s on. It has been kept in near-perfect condition since 1977, the year of the museum's opening.
The Sunnyside School is a one-room schoolhouse that existed roughly four miles from the Ingalls' home but was moved to the same area as their log cabin to show visitors what the family would have had for schooling. The Ingalls girls were too young to have actually attended the school but the one they did attend would have resembled Sunnyside, nevertheless. The school has also been staged in the same way it would have during 1871 and features authentic desks and a classroom setup that would have been seen by students as they filtered in for the morning classes.
The museum also features a Prairie Days Festival every year, during which visitors can partake in town 'events' and get a feel for what life was really like for the Ingalls during their time in Kansas. The museum also hosts events for the Ingalls' birthdays and other important dates, all of which are consistently updated on their Facebook page. Many of the memorable moments described in Laura's books can be connected throughout various locations at the museum and around the grounds, such as the fateful meeting of Mr. Edwards, a treasured and honored friend of the Ingalls. Many leave the museum with a sense of affirmation knowing they, too, have walked the same paths that the Ingalls family did, as well as coming away with a renewed appreciation for the history of their legacy.