Laura Ingalls Wilder Conference 2010

We are pleased to announce that a Laura Ingalls Wilder - Rose Wilder Lane conference will be held on campus of Minnesota State University at Mankato on July 15-17, 2010. An announcement will be made again here when registration opens for conference attendees.

If you are interested in presenting at the conference, please download the Call for Proposals flyer for details in how to submit your proposed paper. Feel free to print and post, or redistribute the flyer to other interested parties or groups.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Days -- Old World Wisconsin

I don't know about you, but this video makes me want to hop in my covered wagon and head on up to Wisconsin!




Visit Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, July 25-26, 2009, to join in the fun!

Have a "Little House" Christmas!

The holiday season is upon us, and if you're like most "Little House" fans, you may be hoping to work a bit of "Little House" into your Christmas celebration this year. The Christmas chapters of the "Little House" series are among the most beloved, despite (and probably because of) the simplicity of the Ingalls and Wilder celebrations.

Here are just a few ways that you can have a "Little House" Christmas:

1. Christmas with Almanzo

The Almanzo Wilder Farm in Burke, NY, will be open Saturday, December 6, from 11 am to 3 pm, for a special Christmas event.

Come into Mother Wilder's cozy kitchen for homemade cookies and apple cider, then gather in the parlor for a reading of the Farmer Boy Christmas chapter. Other enjoyable activities will be provided for the children, as weather permits.

The house and museum will be open to the public but there will be no tours (self-guided only). The gift shop will be stocked with all things "Little House" (including the new Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura DVD, which if you haven't already ordered, would make a lovely Christmas present for any Wilder fan), and free gift wrapping will be provided.


2. Go see a "Little House" Christmas play.

"A Little House Christmas" is being shown in local theatres around the United States over the next couple of weeks. (Known locations include Houston and Dallas, Texas; Eau Claire and Menomonie, Wisconsin; and Warren, Ohio.) Check with your local theaters, or do a google search on "Little House Christmas" and your state name to see if there is a showing near you.

Also showing are "A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas"(known locations include Nampa and Caldwell, Idaho, and Mount Airy, North Carolina), "A Laura Ingalls Wilder Pioneer Christmas" (known locations include New Richmond, Wisconsin), and "A Little House Christmas at Plum Creek" (known locations include Boone, Iowa).

If you are aware of any other locations not mentioned, please leave the information in the comments section and we will update this post accordingly.


3. Attend "The Ingalls Family's Long Winter".

Raleigh, North Carolina, is the location for this unique holiday celebration, which will enable participants to learn about and experience the tasks used by the Ingalls family to survive during the Hard Winter of 1880-81. The event will be held from 2 to 4 pm on December 11, 13, and 14. The event is geared for children 6 to 13 and their accompanying adults, and requires a pre-registration fee of $2. Call (919) 856-6675 to register.


4. Enjoy a reread of the "Little House" Christmas chapters.

Live too far from any of the Christmas events? Have your own "Little House" party. Read the Christmas chapters and simply enjoy them, or use them to find ideas you can incorporate into your own family's Christmas traditions.

Meet William Anderson, Wilder scholar

William Anderson, well-known "Little House" historian and the author of many Wilder-related publications, will speak in Junction City, Kansas, Sunday October 19, at 1:30 pm.

The event will begin with fiddle music by a local musician, followed by Bill Anderson's presentation on the life and works of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Anderson will sell and sign some of his books after his talk.

This program is sponsored by the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library in Junction City, KS, but will be held at the Junction City High School auditorium, located at 900 North Eisenhower. The event is free, but tickets are required, and can be picked up at the library anytime during regular hours at 230 West Seventh.

The library currently has a Wilder display featuring items on loan from the Wilder Home in Mansfield, Missouri, as well as two autographed "Little House" books. Stop in before October 31 to see this exhibit.

For more information, contact Patty Collins at (785) 238-4311 or pattyc@jclib.org.

Ingalls Family and Friends Picnic -- Florida

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive here at Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl is, "Are there any descendants of the Ingalls family still living today?" Laura's daughter Rose Wilder Lane was the only biological grandchild of Charles and Caroline Ingalls to survive infancy, and she had no surviving children, therefore if referring to Laura's immediate family, the answer is no. (Note: Carrie did have two stepchildren, and there are surviving descendants of her stepdaughter Mary.)

However, there are many descendants still living of some of Laura's cousins, and now you have an opportunity to meet some of them!

For a few months in 1891-1892, Laura, Almanzo, and Rose lived in Holmes County, Florida, with Peter Ingalls and his family -- "Cousin Peter" from Little House in the Big Woods and The First Four Years. Another cousin, Joseph Quiner Carpenter (not mentioned in the books, but he is the son of Ma's and Aunt Eliza's sister Martha) also owned land nearby.

Peter's grandson still owns the family land in Westville, Florida, and a historical marker commemorates the site where Peter's home formerly stood.

The third annual Ingalls Family and Friends Reunion Picnic will be held on the Peter Ingalls farm from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, October 18. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Peter Ingalls will be in attendance. You are welcome to attend this picnic, see the historical marker, and visit with other Laura fans and the Ingalls family.

While in the area, you may also wish to visit the Mt. Ida Church where Laura and Almanzo attended, along with the Peter Ingalls family. Beside the church is the cemetery where Peter, his wife Mary ("Molly") and one son, Alex, are buried.

For more information, including directions to the farm, please contact John Bass at JohnBass@aol.com.

A Visit from Laura Bush

The town of Mansfield, Missouri, is gearing up for a visit from First Lady Laura Bush, scheduled for this coming Friday, October 3. Mrs. Bush will visit Rocky Ridge Farm around noon on Friday to tour the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum.

The "Little House" books have been favorites of Mrs. Bush's since her childhood days, and she has stated that her mother read Little House on the Prairie to her before she could read. Mrs. Bush in turn passed the "Little House" books on to her own girls, and has often mentioned the series in her talks on the importance of reading.

We are sure that she will enjoy her visit to Laura's Ozark home. We encourage anyone who has not yet made the trip to Rocky Ridge to do so as it as an experience that no Wilder fan will want to miss.

Update: (posted October 3, 2008)

Click here to watch KY3 news video of Laura Bush's tour of Rocky Ridge Farm held earlier today. (Wait through the brief commercial and the news piece will begin.)

Harvest Fest -- New York

Bring the kids to the Almanzo Wilder Farm in Burke, New York, on Saturday, September 27, to celebrate the annual Harvest Fest. Children can paint pumpkins, make scarecrows, and play old-fashioned games.

The original farmhouse lived in by Almanzo Wilder and his family during his childhood, described in Farmer Boy, as well as the replica barns that have been built on the property will be open, and guests are free to walk through and look around as they wish. Textile demonstrations, such as spinning and weaving that Mother Wilder did, will be given.

A Civil War encampment and live musical entertainment will also be part of the festival. Activities run from 10 am to 4 pm. Contact the Almanzo Wilder Farm for more information.

Almanzo Wilder Farm
Malone, New York
(518) 483-1207

Kansas Pioneer Girl Day

Kansas Pioneer Girl Day will take place from 10 am to noon on Saturday, September 27, in Olathe, Kansas (near Kansas City).

Visitors are encouraged to dress "like Laura" or pioneer-style to participate in the old-fashioned games and activities available. Period music and stories of the Ingalls will also be featured.

Activities take place at the Ernie Miller Park in Olathe. Admission is $4. Advance registration is required and the event fills quickly. Call (913) 764-7759 to register.

Wilder Days - Wisconsin and Missouri

Summer is over, autumn is just around the corner, and the kids are back in school. But the end of summer isn't the end of fun at the Laura Ingalls Wilder historic homesites.

This weekend, September 13-14, Laura Ingalls Wilder Days will be celebrated in Pepin, Wisconsin. Activities will include craft demonstrations, children's pioneer games, wagon rides, and musical entertainment. Events will be held Saturday from 9 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.

Historians Sarah Sue Uthoff and Kitty Latane will be speaking in the Pepin Public Library beginning at 11 am Saturday. Girls ages 5-13 may participate in the "Pepin Laura" contest Saturday afternoon. The events will conclude with a Sunday afternoon parade at 2 pm. Of course, attendees will want to visit the museum and "Little House in the Big Woods" replica cabin while visiting Pepin. Call 1-800-442-3011 for more details or visit the Pepin website.

Meanwhile, in Mansfield, Missouri, "Little House" fans will be celebrating Wilder Days as well.

On Saturday, September 13, the "Little Laura" and "Little Farmer Boy" lookalike contests will begin at 9 am. Afterward, children can participate in 19th century games, followed by a parade at 1 pm, with the theme "On the Way Home." At 3 pm and 8 pm, the Ozark Mountain Players will perform their "Laura's Memories" pageant at the Mansfield City Park.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Mansfield (Rocky Ridge farm) will be open for tours all day. Pa's fiddle will be played at 10:15 and 1:30 on the museum grounds. Other entertainment will be provided throughout the course of the day. Visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home website for more information.

We hope many of you are able to attend one of these events, and have a very enjoyable weekend celebrating the life and books of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Little House on the Prairie, the Musical: A Review

SPOILER ALERT:

This review contains some information that those who plan to watch the performance may not wish to know in advance.

The Little House on the Prairie musical opens tonight at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after previewing July 26 through August 14. Although critical reviews from theatre experts abound, I have yet to see a full review from the perspective of the "Little House" fan.
The theatre is small and cozy; the Homestead Act of 1862 is displayed on a screen before the performance begins.

The storyline focuses on the Ingalls' quest for "free land" and the struggles they and fellow homesteaders endured trying to prove up on their bet with Uncle Sam. The producers did an excellent job capturing the pioneer spirit -- their devotion to the land and to overcoming hard times. However, I feel they fall short when it comes to making an emotional connection with the audience.

The early scenes were very cute and they did an excellent job incorporating humor throughout the play; but the play failed to make me connect with the characters on a deeper level. It often made me laugh, but it failed to make me cry. The characters are caricatures rather than real people. Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable experience and I would love to see it again.

The “Little House” purist will be both pleased and displeased with the script. Pleased because a great number of lines in the dialogue come straight out of the “Little House” books, many lines word for word the way Laura wrote them. Displeased because, as in any dramatic production, liberties were taken and changes were made.

Virtually every scene in the musical comes from the books; however, they are not always chronological. There is some logic behind the changes that were made, however. For example, Mary does not go blind until the Long Winter, but it is obvious that this change was made because her character needed to be developed (as the good little girl who loves to learn and wants to be a teacher) so that the impact that her blindness had on her could be better understood by the audience. Mary contracts scarlet fever, and this scene was developed by pulling in bits from the “fever ‘n’ ague” chapter of Little House on the Prairie. Again, there is some logic to this – a doctor had to be called for Mary anyway, Laura doesn’t ever name a doctor in De Smet or Walnut Grove; so rather than invent a fictional doctor, the writer simply pulled in Dr. Tann from a previous book.

The story begins with the Ingalls’ decision to leave Walnut Grove. We see the building of the railroad, finding and filing on the homestead claim, the town springing up around them. Laura is portrayed as a little girl during these early scenes of the musical, and quickly becomes characterized as – for lack of a better word – wild. Kara Lindsay is energetic and animated, to the point that I didn’t really find young Laura to be very likable. However, as the plot proceeds, Laura grows up and with some effort, is able to tame her wild side. The older Laura is a much more likable character and I was quite pleased that she calmed down.

Jenn Gambatese plays an outstanding Mary. As the older sister, her behavior sharply contrasts with Laura’s and Carrie’s in the early scenes; while they are high-strung and childish and complain about having to go to school, Mary is more mature, and recognizes the opportunities that living near a town and going to school afford her.

Carrie is played by Maeve Moynihan, and her role seems to be the cute little sister that provides occasional comic relief. Grace is not included in the production at all.

Melissa Gilbert is clearly the draw of the play, the reason that ticket sales soared and the show’s run was extended. Two big questions seem to be on everyone’s mind: can she successfully make the shift from being tv Laura to becoming Ma on stage, and can she sing? The answer to both questions is not a simple yes or no.

Acting for television and movies is very different from live stage performances. This style difference between Melissa Gilbert and the other actors is noticeable, yet not necessarily in a negative way. Gilbert is not as lively and animated as the other characters, but because she plays Ma, this actually works out to be a good thing. It would really have bothered me to see Ma Ingalls jumping around the stage as Pa and the girls do, because that would simply be so out of Ma’s character. So I felt it was a very positive thing that Melissa Gilbert’s style was a little different, because it helped to establish Ma’s character more accurately.

As far as her singing, her voice lacks the depth and strength of the other performers, but she shows natural talent and is actually quite good, especially considering her lack of experience in this area. As she becomes more confident and receives more training, I think there will be steady improvement throughout the show's run, making a good voice even better. It’s actually a great risk for her to branch out and do this, and I applaud her for having the courage to do so.

One concern I had beforehand was that I would find it difficult to dissociate Gilbert from the role of Laura, and that this would interfere with my ability to enjoy the performance. I did not find that to be the case; I had no trouble at all viewing Gilbert as Ma, she fell quite naturally into the role and delivered a splendid performance overall.

The relationship between Ma and Pa was very well done; I appreciated the effort made to balance Pa’s itching foot with his love for his family. Steve Blanchard made a wonderful Pa, complete with beard. I only wish that more emphasis had been placed on Pa's fiddle; with this being a musical, it was the perfect opportunity to showcase the importance the fiddle had in helping the family get through their many trials, and it barely received a brief mention.

While my overall impression of the musical was positive, there were three major negatives.

The first followed the scene where the girls are sent home from school for rocking the seat. Pa yells at them for making trouble in school, and his tone was very cruel. It really took me aback and I felt it was very out of character for Pa.

The second occurred while Almanzo was driving Laura back and forth from the Brewster School. After Laura informs Almanzo that she no longer intends to go with him after she’s home for good so he can save himself these long drives if he wishes, Almanzo doesn’t come back! Laura stays at the school till it’s over, then Mr. Brewster takes her home. Meanwhile, Almanzo is taking Nellie Oleson for buggy rides. This twist was designed to create a bit of tension, to make Laura realize now that she no longer has him that she misses Almanzo, but it’s a change I definitely didn’t like.

The third was after Laura finished her teaching stint at the Brewster School. It was made clear that she was miserable there, but held out only to help Mary go to college, just as in the books. However, when she returns from teaching, Ma and Pa inform her that Mary has earned a scholarship and her money isn’t needed, and now she can buy herself a new dress. I hated the way this was done because it made Laura’s sacrifice worthless.

By the way, for those die-hard Wilder fans wondering how Almanzo’s name is pronounced in the show – it’s Al-MON-zo. (The real Almanzo Wilder pronounced his name Al-MAN-zo.)

The audience appeared to enjoy the production. Smiles were on many faces as they watched the performance; it gave me great pleasure to hear the audience roar with laughter at many lines that were actually straight from the books. Laura has such a clever wit, and it was splendid to see it appreciated. I did hear some rumblings afterward about, “Well that’s not how it was in the books”, but overall it seemed to win the approval of the audience.

Rumor has it that the show is slated for a national tour next year, and may end up on Broadway in the future, as well. I definitely feel a national tour is warranted, and will be very successful. I also think that if in the future the script is made available for purchase, many regional or high school/college theatre groups would be interested in performing this. Whether or not it would be a hit on Broadway, I'm not so sure; I'm not sure it really fits the Broadway crowd.

In closing, I would just like to repeat that my overall experience was very positive, and I was thrilled to see "Little House on the Prairie" live on stage. I would love to hear others' thoughts about the musical, and invite you to post your comments below if you have had the opportunity to see it.

"Carrie" Comes to Plum Creek

"Hi, I'm 9 years old and last year in the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant in Walnut Grove, MN, I played Carrie Ingalls," wrote young Victoria Bayer just before Christmas. She was writing to Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush, the twins who shared the role of Carrie in the Little House on the Prairie television series. "Have you ever been to the pageant?" she questioned.

Lindsay Greenbush promptly responded. "No, but I would love to attend." A week later, the announcement was official: The Greenbush twins would be making a special appearance at Walnut Grove on July 19, 2008.

Nearly 1000 fans turned out to see the twins, who hosted a question and answer session, in addition to touring the museum and watching the pageant, "Fragments of a Dream." A special moment occurred when the girls, having grown up playing along television's version of Plum Creek, stood on the banks of the real Plum Creek, on the Ingalls family's farm.

We have invited Victoria to share her experience of meeting the Greenbush twins in person.

Hello! I am Victoria Bayer. I am ten years old and I interviewed Lindsay Greenbush, who played Carrie Ingalls (along with her twin sister Sidney) on the "Little House on the Prairie" TV series.

It all started when I played Carrie last year in the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant in Walnut Grove, MN.

My dad found the email fan club group for the Greenbush Twins and we joined it together. There are lots of people on the list. I asked the twins if they'd ever been to Walnut Grove and they said no. They asked for some information and I sent the Walnut Grove link to them.

Then a little while later we got an announcement that they were going to come. I was really excited. All of the pamphlets and billboards said "guest star appearance."

My mom told me I should ask to interview them for a homeschool project and they said yes. So I emailed them my questions and Lindsay emailed me her answers. We printed them out and gave them to the newspaper editor and he published them in the Sentinel Tribune.

They came to Walnut Grove while the pageant was going on and they gave a speech and answered questions at the park. The girl who played Carrie this year and I got to go on stage with them. I asked them what they liked to do for fun back stage. They said they liked to play backgammon and later they had a weight room. They weren't supposed to be in there but they were bored sometimes and would use it while the rest of the cast was filming. Sometimes they'd have a weight in the air and when the buzzer sounds that means you have to be quiet. They couldn't put it down because that would make noise so they'd have to keep it in the air the whole time or really, really quietly put it down.

After they answered questions, they signed pictures of themselves. There was a half a block long line and I got to get an autograph immediately. That made me feel lucky.

Some newspaper reporters took my picture with Sidney and Lindsay. The Marshall reporter chased me down and she kept shouting "pigtails!" to get my attention since I had braids in my hair. Then she asked my name and phone number and later she called and asked more questions over the phone. When the paper came out, we saw that I was on the front page with the Greenbush twins and the headline was "Thanks to Victoria."

It was amazing to be a part of this. I'll remember it forever!

Sidney Greenbush, Victoria Bayer, and Lindsay Greenbush

Used with permission.

Thank you, Victoria, and thank you, Lindsay and Sidney for generously giving of your time to meet your fans in Walnut Grove!


For those who missed out and are interested in meeting Lindsay or Sidney, the following upcoming appearances are scheduled:

August 23, 2008: Lindsay Greenbush will be appearing at Pioneer History Day in Simi Valley, California. Autograph sessions and a Q&A session with Lindsay will be scheduled throughout the day. Click here for details.

September 5-7, 2008: Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush will attend Holy Terror Days in Keystone, South Dakota. Call (605) 343-7800 for more information.

You're Invited to a Party...

A birthday party is being held for Carrie Ingalls and you are all invited!

When: Sunday, August 3, from noon to 4 pm

Where: Keystone Historic Museum in Keystone, South Dakota

Guests are encouraged to dress in the period of the 1890s (when Keystone was first established as a town). A contest will be held, with prizes of $25 given for the best children's costume and the best adult costume.

There will be children's activities, as well as a watermelon contest.

And of course, no birthday party is complete without the cake! Cake with punch or coffee will be served to all guests.

If you live in or will be visiting the Black Hills area this weekend, don't miss the opportunity to take part in Carrie's birthday party!



Carrie was born August 3, 1870, in Kansas. She spent the later years of her life in Keystone, with her husband David Swanzey and stepchildren Mary and Harold. The Keystone Area Historical Society has their museum in the old Keystone Schoolhouse. "Little House" fans will enjoy the Carrie Ingalls display there, which includes many of Carrie's personal possessions, the gravestone of Ma's brother, Henry Quiner, who also lived in the area, and a china figure owned by Carrie which some say may be Ma's china shepherdess.

More information about Carrie's life can be found at Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl. Please visit the website for the Keystone Area Historical Society for more information about what they have to offer.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Day

The Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford, New York, (near Rochester) is hosting Laura Ingalls Wilder Day on August 9, 2008.

On a typical day, this museum is a great place for any "Little House" fan to visit, as it is a large living history village, complete with many 19th century homes and businesses. But on August 9, special focus will be placed on Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson on the "Little House on the Prairie" television series, will be present for the event. Unlike her character, Alison is an incredibly nice person, not to mention lots of fun!

Lonna McKeon Pierce, a professional storyteller and Laura impersonator, will be presenting her program, "A Visit with Laura Ingalls Wilder."

Children are encouraged to dress pioneer style (boys too!), as there will be both a Laura look-alike contest and a pioneer fashion pageant. Pioneer activities will be available throughout the day -- learn to do laundry, churn butter, knead bread, make a corn-husk doll, and use a cross-cut saw. But it's not all about the work -- there's plenty of time for play too! Join in the sack race, the three-legged race, listen to stories, go for a wagon ride, or join in a game of baseball! There's something to interest everyone! Many other demonstrations will be given throughout the day, as well.

Contact information:
Genesee Country Village and Museum
http://www.gcv.org/

Little House on the Prairie Musical

The big news in the "Little House" world these days is the new Prairie musical, which premiered today at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

Melissa Gilbert stars as Ma, Steve Blanchard as Pa, and Kara Lindsay as Laura in the new production. Performances will continue from now through October 19, and tickets can be purchased at http://www.guthrietheater.org/prairie If you haven't gotten your tickets already, act quickly. Many performances are already sold out!

I will be attending the musical next month and will post a full review at that time. Stay tuned!

Welcome to Our Blog

Welcome to the Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl blog.

This blog was created for Frontier Girl fans who wish to keep updated on the latest happenings in the world of "Little House", as well as new features added to the website. Check the sidebar to subscribe so you will be notified of all new posts.

Your feedback is always welcome in our comments section.

For new readers, here is a list of useful links:

Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl -- This is our main website, providing information about the people and places of the "Little House" books. Have fun exploring and learning more about this wonderful author!

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We hope you will enjoy this latest addition to the Frontier Girl website. Don't forget to subscribe on the left sidebar, and feel free to leave your comments below!