How to Visit Walnut Grove, the Home of "Little House on the Prairie" Writer Laura Ingalls Wilder
How to Visit Walnut Grove, the Home of "Little House on the Prairie" Writer Laura Ingalls Wilder
By Caitlin Hannah
Laura Ingalls Wilder lived on Plum Creek near Walnut Grove in the 1870s. Explore this charming small town to learn more about the author's Minnesota roots, and visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum to see artifacts from her autobiographical book series and the iconic “Little House on the Prairie” television show Netflix recently tapped for a new take on undeveloped titles.
Super fans can also catch the annual Wilder Pageant, where her family’s stories come alive on an outdoor stage and cottagecore isn't a fashion trend. It's a way of life.
Who was Laura Ingalls Wilder?
A family portrait of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote and published nine “Little House” books about her childhood with her daughter, Rose, between 1932 and 1943. The fourth book in the series, "On the Banks of Plum Creek," chronicles her family's time in the southwest Minnesota prairie, where a museum, pageant and several other sites give Laura Ingalls Wilder fans from around the world a peek into the American pioneer life.
Multiple adaptations of her books have been produced for the screen and the stage, with the most popular being the iconic television show "Little House on the Prairie," which aired on NBC from 1974 to 1983 and starred Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, and others.
What is the Laura Ingalls Museum like?
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum tells the story of the family's life here, displaying historic artifacts, several outbuildings and memorabilia from the "Little House on the Prairie" TV show that was set (but not filmed) in Minnesota.
Visitors enter through the gift shop, where books and other trinkets will tempt even the most casual Laura fan. Stroll through life-size replicas of the settlers' house, schoolhouse, outhouse, church and dugout, like the one the Ingalls family lived in when they first arrived at Plum Creek.
Credit: Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
Other buildings feature antiques and displays about pioneer life, a kid's play area and exhibits dedicated to the Wilder Pageant and the popular television series. Multiple “Little House on the Prairie” TV series stars have visited, and memorabilia from the show and their visits are on display.
The museum is open daily from April through October, and the gift shop is open year-round; check the museum website for hours and holidays.
When did the original "Little House on the Prairie" TV series air?
"Little House on the Prairie" was set in Walnut Grove but filmed in California with TV stars like Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon. It aired from 1974 to 1983, with over 200 episodes and four specials. It was NBC’s highest-rated scripted series from season three to season seven. The iconic series was named “All-Time Best Family Show” by a TV Guide reader’s poll.
The show remains popular, and in January 2025, Nielsen Media Research recognized it as a stop-streaming Legacy program, with 13.25 billion minutes viewed on Peacock in 2024. The show is also available on other streaming networks. In 2025, Netflix announced a new series based on the “Little House on the Prairie” books. Instead of rebooting the original series, the series will focus on the original books.
When is the Wilder Pageant?
The Wilder Pageant in Walnut Grove
For three weekends every July, the Wilder Pageant brings international audiences to relive the family's stories in live outdoor performances. The shows are held in a hillside amphitheater west of town on — you guessed it — the banks of Plum Creek. Titled "Fragments of a Dream," the pageant chronicles the Ingalls' life in Walnut Grove in two acts.
Following the pageant, the Loose Gravel Music Festival occurs at the same site on the last Saturday of July. Attendees are encouraged to camp on-site, and music is performed throughout the day.
What else can I see in Walnut Grove?
Credit: Fond Memories
A mile and a half north of town is the dugout site where the Ingalls family lived before building their house. The land is now owned by the Gordon family, who welcome visitors to see the plum thickets, tablelands, big rock and spring that Laura described in the book.
The dugout is no longer there, but 25 acres of native grasses have been planted around the site. It's open May through October, weather permitting, for a small fee per car. Bring a picnic and take in the sights and sounds of Plum Creek.
Back in town, the Fond Memories gift shop is in the historic Walnut Grove Creamery building. It sells unique gifts and scrapbooking supplies and offers unique Laura Ingalls Wilder merchandise.
Where is the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway?
Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway / Credit: Lorie Shaull
A roughly 300-mile stretch of U.S. Route 14, from De Smet, South Dakota, to Pepin, Wisconsin, was designated the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway in 1995. The route loosely follows the Ingalls family's journey across the Upper Midwest, and today, it connects several sites of significance in their transient lives.
After Walnut Grove, the second Minnesota town on the route is Spring Valley, in the state's southeast corner, halfway between Rochester and the Iowa border. After marrying and starting their family in De Smet, Laura and her husband, Almanzo, moved in with his family in Spring Valley in 1890. The Spring Valley Methodist Church is now a museum housing historic artifacts, antiques and records detailing the Wilder family's time in Spring Valley.
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Caitlin Hannah is Explore Minnesota's senior digital social strategist. When traveling around the state, she likes spending time near the water, hiking, antique shopping, trying new restaurants, and watching hockey.