Two Laura Ingalls Wilder Stops

 8.18.2023

Old Barn Resort, Preston, MN

Mileage:1467

As Dad was declining he often said that he never made it past the Mississippi River.  I thought of him today on what would have been his 93rd birthday as I crossed the river three times.  The start of my route today took me along the Great River Road, route 61, in Minnesota, our 9th state.

That's the The Great River herself out there!

For Christmas in 1975 my cousins, Lisa and Stacy, gave me Little House in the Big Woods.  I loved the book and read the whole series.  I also read everything else Laura wrote along with many books about her.  I always envisioned visiting the places she wrote about.  I am excited (OK Geeked-out)  to be able to do so.  While Pepin, Wisconsin was always on the list Spring Valley, MN was added today as it is part of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Trail.  It is interesting to learn how Laura's real life intersects with the books which were written for children.  Reality was definitely not as rosy as the fiction she wrote thus much was left out of the fictionalized stories.  

 

While Kenny worked today I visited two places along the Laura Ingalls Wilder Trail.  First was Pepin, Wisconsin, Laura's birthplace.  Pepin definitely identifies itself with the origin's of Laura.  There is a museum and a wayside with a small replica cabin and a marker.  The big woods is mostly farmland now with most of the trees gone.  It is still beautiful.

The museum houses a few original artifacts like this plate referenced in The First Four Years.  It says Give Us This Day our Daily Bread.  It was one of the few objects saved from the house fire from Almanzo and Laura's first house.

Pig's bladder balloon like one referenced in Little House in the Big Woods.

Lake Pepin is the largest natural lake on the Mississippi.

After visiting Pepin, WI I drove back across the Mississippi and stopped to take a couple of pictures in Wabasha, MN.  The river isn't very wide here, but I was amazed at the slough that surrounds it.  I was just outside The National Eagle Center which looked interesting.  I'll put it on the list for next trip to the area.

Spring Valley Methodist Church houses the Spring Valley Historical Society Museum.  Almanzo's, parents moved here after Almanzo was an adult.  Laura, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose lived here briefly while recuperating from Diphtheria.

The barn from the Wilder's farm.  The house is no longer standing.  It is private property so I could only take a picture from the road.

After this I drove to our campground, Old Barn Resort, for the next couple of days.  

Rough roads knocked our map off the wall so before I put it back up I added two new states, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

And . . . if you made it this far . . . .

Comet had the zoomies tonight which is funny in the RV because making the turns is sometimes tough!