The Little House in Missouri - A Visit to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum
The Little House in Missouri - A Visit to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
The Little House books were among my favorites growing up, so visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Missouri felt a little like stepping back into my own childhood. Walking the grounds, seeing the house, imagining the quiet routines of daily life, it was all deeply familiar, even if I’d only ever known it through the page.
I had a wonderful time exploring the museum, though I’ll admit the enthusiasm was not equally shared. Fish was a very good sport about it, even if frontier domestic history isn’t exactly his preferred genre.
I was a little disappointed that indoor photography wasn’t allowed. I understand the reasoning; flash does long-term damage, but many museums permit non-flash photos, and this one does not. Still, some things are better experienced than documented, and perhaps that restraint is part of the point.
One detail that stuck with me was Laura’s china.
Seeing one of the wagons the family traveled in, I honestly cannot imagine how anything delicate survived those journeys. The distances were immense, the roads rough, the moves frequent, and yet somehow, plates endured. It’s a small thing, but it made the era feel suddenly very human.
At the same time, visiting the museum also brought up complicated feelings.
It makes me sad that the Little House books have come under controversy, but not surprised. Laura, her family, and her community held strong and deeply harmful biases against Native Americans, beliefs that were widespread, taught, and reinforced during that period of American expansion.
I believe it is essential to address that bias directly.
When reading these books to children, we cannot gloss over or excuse them. We have to name it, explain why it is wrong, and acknowledge the harm it reflects. Ignoring it doesn’t preserve history; it distorts it. Confronting it honestly gives us the chance to teach empathy, accountability, and context.
These stories are part of our cultural fabric. They don’t become better by pretending they’re flawless; they become more meaningful when we read them with clarity.
xoxo,
a.d. elliott
About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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