Some of you may recall the doctor who helped the Ingalls family when they fell ill in Chapter 15, “Fever ‘N’ Ague” of Little House on the Prairie. He was based on George A. Tann, a pioneer, physician, and neighbor of the Ingalls family. We are excited to explore the real-life of Dr. George A. Tann….
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.
The Little House Books: A Lesson in Money 101
The Little House book series conveys messages about family, community, perseverance, courage, and a variety of values. The Ingalls family is no stranger to hardship, especially financial strain. Readers of the Little House books can see Pa Ingalls evolve from a young ambitious father to a mature patriarch regarding the family’s finances. By the end…
The House on Rocky Ridge Farm: Preserved, not Restored
Laura Ingalls Wilder was a teacher, seamstress, farmer’s wife, journalist, farm loan administrator, and an author. It was her role as writer of the Little House books that brought her lasting fame. And another job. She was the first, but unofficial, tour guide at her home on Rocky Ridge Farm near Mansfield, Missouri. Readers of…
From “Unlearned Poet” to “Untutored Housewife”: Samuel Worthen Ingalls and Laura Ingalls Wilder
As a child who’d practically memorized the Little House book series, I was entranced by the idea of Laura Ingalls Wilder as an “untutored housewife,” whose fiction suddenly sprang to life fully formed when she was in her sixties. As an adult, I learned that the widespread notion that Wilder was a self-taught genius with…
Six Can’t Miss Things to Do and See in De Smet, South Dakota
In my younger years—with no husband in sight—I joked that whomever I married must be willing to take a honeymoon trip to all of the Little House sites. When I did find my own “beau,” he was, ironically, a farmer—quite a foreigner to this suburban Boston girl. Although love was the catalyst for relocating from…
One More Visit to the Little House: The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder
“I’d like to write to the folks in Wisconsin” [Ma said to Pa] “If you mail a letter now, they can write this winter, and then we can hear from them next spring.“ Little House on the Prairie These words, read to my third grade classroom, made a lasting impression on me. I thought to…