Spring Valley in Fillmore County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Methodist Church Museum
Laura Ingalls Wilder Site
Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025
1. Methodist Church Museum Marker
The Wilder family, of Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder, moved to Spring Valley in the 1870's: James and Angeline, children Laura, Royal, Eliza, Alice, Almanzo and Perley.
Construction of this Methodist Church began in 1876. The Wilders were supportive and faithful members "who helped retire the debt." The church with its Italian stained glass windows (circa 1715) is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Laura, Almanzo and Rose Wilder lived in Spring Valley in 1890. See church exhibits to learn about the Wilder family in Spring Valley.
Erected by Spring Valley Methodist Church Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.
Location. 43° 41.276′ N, 92° 23.572′ W. Marker is in Spring Valley, Minnesota, in Fillmore County. It is on Courtland Street east of N. Hudson Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 221 W Courtland Street, Spring Valley MN 55975, United States of America.
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Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota and in Greater Rochester. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Driftless Area Bluff Country. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Historical site (approx. 9.1 miles away); Zumbro Hill Cemetery (approx. 9.1 miles away); Forestville Gristmill (approx. 9.3 miles away); Forestville Brickyard (approx. 9.3 miles away); Explore Minnesota's Hardwoods at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park (approx. 9.3 miles away); Graded School (approx. 9.4 miles away); Robert Foster House (approx. 9.4 miles away); Meighen Icehouse (approx. 9.4 miles away).
Photographed by McGhiever, July 28, 2013
2. Spring Valley Methodist Church Museum with marker at near corner
Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
