Walnut Grove in Redwood County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Laura's Dugout Home on the Banks of Plum Creek

August 12, 2007

1. Laura's Dugout Home on the Banks of Plum Creek Marker

Inscription. The Charles Ingalls Family's dugout home was located here in the 1870's. This depression is all that remains since the roof caved in years ago. The prairie grasses and flowers here grow much as they did in Laura's time, and the spring still flows nearby.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Settlements & Settlers • Women.

Location. 44° 14.943′ N, 95° 27.81′ W. Marker is in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in Redwood County. It can be reached from County Road 5 1½ miles north of U.S. 14, on the right when traveling north. Located on farmland owned by the Gordon family. Fee required. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Walnut Grove MN 56180, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota and specifically in the Minnesota River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Great Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "On the Banks of Plum Creek" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Walnut Grove Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Site of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 2½ miles away); Revere Area Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.2 miles away); The Tracy Tornado Tree / Tracy Tornado Clock (approx. 7.7 miles away); Tracy Tornado Memorial (approx. 7.7 miles away); Tracy Veterans Memorial

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(approx. 8.6 miles away); Reconciliation Trail (approx. 13.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Grove.

Regarding Laura's Dugout Home on the Banks of Plum Creek. In 1947 Harold and Della Gordon purchased a 172 acre farm in Walnut Grove, MN, unaware of its historical connection. Garth Williams, an illustrator of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, had been following the Ingalls' trail in courthouse records. He visited the Gordons in November 1947 and informed them that their new farm had been homesteaded by the Ingalls. The unusual depression in the bank of Plum Creek was the location of the Ingalls dugout.

The Gordon family continues to maintain access to the dugout site for Laura's fans. Visitors can still identify the plum thickets, table lands, big rock, spring, and other sites that Laura describes in "On the Banks of Plum Creek". The Gordons have left the dugout site as they found it in 1947. The deep depression is all that remains of Laura's dugout home. None of the buildings that Pa built remain nor is their exact location known. About 25 acres of native grasses have been planted surrounding the dugout site since 1999 to enhance the visitor's experience.

The site is open during daylight hours

Marker and Depression image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

2. Marker and Depression

May through October, weather permitting. Occasionally, heavy rains cause Plum Creek to flood access to the site. Entrance to the site is through the current 1900 era farmstead located 1.5 miles north of Walnut Grove on Redwood County Highway 5. The Gordons charge visitors $5.00 per car or $30.00 per tour bus which is deposited at the site on the honor system. Follow the signs to a large parking and picnic area along Plum Creek and enjoy the sights and sounds from Laura's time.

Additional keywords. laura ingalls wilder little house on the prairie tableland

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2008, by Chris Johnson of Scottsdale, Arizona. This page has been viewed 10,283 times since then and 127 times this year. Last updated on December 30, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on April 12, 2008, by Chris Johnson of Scottsdale, Arizona. 2. submitted on December 30, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.