Of Simpler Times and Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Not too long ago, we drove past a small town in Wisconsin called Pepin that had a museum in memory of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Do you remember her from the TV show Little House On the Prairie with Michael Landon?  Well, if you don’t recall, the show was about the life of a family who lived in the 1870’s and 1880’s.

The show covered topics such as adoption, blindness and alcoholism ~ just to name a few.  It portrayed what might be considered a “simpler” time in life.

We decided to pay the fee to go inside the museum.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Minnesota
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Minnesota

Once inside, we learned that the town was Laura’s place of birth.  It was a fairly small museum but had interesting stories and items.

The below is called a “prairie dress” and is typical of the dresses worn in her day.  I kind’ve like it.

Prairie Dress
Prairie Dress

One thing I didn’t know was that they had sewing machines “back in the day.”  No special stitches on these older models like the fancy ones nowadays that have 150 various stitches.  A more simpler time …

Champion Treadle Sewing Machine
Champion Treadle Sewing Machine

I’m not sure I would want to use one of these older stoves.  I really do like the convenience that mine has to offer ~ mainly electronic.

Old Stove
Old Stove

The quilt below is hand sewn although not from the period that Laura Ingalls lived in.  It’s a reproduction though.  As a fairly new quilter, I know it takes a lot of time to hand quilt these which is why I make mine via sewing machine.

Hand Sewn Quilt
Hand Sewn Quilt

The covered wagon below was built in the late 19th or early 20th century by the Rock Island Plow Company in Rockford, Illinois.  It’s typical of a farm wagon of that era.  In Laura’s stories (books that were written by her), the farm wagon was used as a temporary home as the family journeyed from one home to another.

Can you picture yourself in one of these?

Covered Farm Wagon, Rock Island Plow Company
Covered Farm Wagon, Rock Island Plow Company

Below is a picture of Laura in her older days.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Photo
Laura Ingalls Wilder Photo

And here’s a picture of Laura when she was 17 along with her husband Almanzo.

Young Laura Ingalls Wilder
Young Laura Ingalls Wilder

And here’s a photo of Laura and Almanzo’s Golden Wedding anniversary …

Laura Ingalls Wilder Golden Wedding Anniversary
Laura Ingalls Wilder Golden Wedding Anniversary

Laura wrote a series of “Little House” books that the TV show was kind’ve based on. As with all movies, they don’t always follow the book’s plot.

And there you have it.

A trip down memory lane with Laura.  It was interesting to go to this museum and read about her “real” life.

The TV show always ended on a positive note which is what I liked about it.  I know life is not always that way but sometimes how we look at things can make a huge difference.

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