Little House on the Prairie History

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books have captured the imaginations and hearts of multiple generations. This History section showcases Wilder's evolving legacy across multiple subjects and audiences. You’ll find a range of information focused on her work, life, and family. Browse the articles below or click here for a complete index.

Where the World is Topsy-Turvy: Rose Wilder Lane after the Great War

“It was a faith that made one humble, and a little ashamed…” Rose Wilder Lane, “The Children’s Crusade,” Good Housekeeping, November 1920. In the spring of 1920, not long after “The War to End War” staggered to its empty close, Rose Wilder Lane boarded the ship St. Paul in New York and steamed for…

Laura Ingalls Wilder & Rose Wilder Lane: The Beginning of a Fruitful, Fateful Collaboration

In the history of literature, there’s nothing quite like the relationship between Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter, the journalist Rose Wilder Lane. One of the most remarkable things about the Little House books is how the series grew out of their profoundly close and often contentious relationship. From the beginning, the books were the…

Historic Locations and Points of Interest

Laura Ingalls Wilder traveled extensively throughout Wisconsin, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri, and beyond. We have compiled a list of the historic sites and museums related to Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Prairie, as well as other points of interest. Please click below to go directly to the listings in that…

Laura Ingalls Wilder and Me: A Prairie Girl’s Faith

“As a child, I learned my Bible lessons by heart, in the good old-fashioned way, and once won the prize for repeating correctly . . . verses from the Bible.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder I would never have written A Prairie Girl’s Faith: The Spiritual Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder if Spring Ridge School hadn’t…

You Need a Farm! Laura Ingalls Wilder and American Farming

“A farmer depends on himself, and the land and the weather. If you’re a farmer, you raise what you eat, you raise what you wear, and you keep warm with wood out of your own timber. You work hard, but you work as you please, and no man can tell you to go or come….

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Naturalist

“Rabbits stood up with paws dangling, long ears twitching, and their round eyes staring at Mary and Laura.” On the Banks of Plum Creek I’d like to suggest a thought experiment. Instead of categorizing Laura Ingalls Wilder as an American children’s author, think of her as a nature writer as well. Take her titles. The…