Near Mansfield in Wright County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Wilder Home / The Little House Books Began Here
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2012
1. The Wilder Home Marker (Side A)
The Wilder Home 1928-1936
In 1928, after living abroad for several years, Rose Wilder Lane returned to her childhood home on Rocky Ridge Farm. With proceeds from her writings Rose built her parents a modern house. The keys were presented to Laura and Almanzo at Christmas, and Rose continued to live in the white farmhouse. By 1936 Rose had left Missouri for New York City. Her parents then returned to their original home. This part of the farm was sold. In 1990, the Wilder Association purchased the property. After restoration, the house was dedicated in 1997.
The Little House Books Began Here
While living here in the Rock House, Laura Ingalls Wilder started writing the Little House books which made her famous. With pencil, on five-cent tablets, she completed the following books: Little House in the Big Woods, Farmer Boy, Little House on the Prairie, and On the Banks of Plum Creek. During the same period, Rose Wilder Lane wrote extensively, including her best known novel Let the Hurricane Roar. First published as a serial in The Saturday Evening Post in 1932, it became a best selling book during the Depression years.
Erected 2000 by Missouri State Council of the International Reading Association, The School Children
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Entertainment • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 37° 5.93′ N, 92° 33.407′ W. Marker is near Mansfield, Missouri, in Wright County. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3068 Highway A,, Mansfield MO 65704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Wilder's Pecan Tree (approx. 0.4 miles away); Rocky Ridge Farm (approx. 0.4 miles away); Carl "Sub" Mays (approx. 1˝ miles away); Laura Ingalls Wilder (approx. 1˝ miles away); War Memorial (approx. 1˝ miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Battle of Hartville Confederate Monument (approx. 10.7 miles away); The Battle of Hartville (approx. 10.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mansfield.
Also see . . .
1. Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum. (Submitted on October 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. (Submitted on October 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Additional keywords. The Wilder Home / The Little House Books Began
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2012
2. The Little Books Began Here Marker (Side B)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2012
3. The Wilder Home / The Little Books Began Here Marker
Photographed By Ruth Wilson Wilcox, June 19, 2017
4. The Wilder Home / The Little House Books Began Here Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2012
5. The Wilder's Rock House
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2012
6. The Wilder's Rock House
Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 601 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on July 9, 2019. 5, 6. submitted on October 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
