Wilder Homestead - Almanzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder Association

Note: the last tour of the day begins at 3:00 sharp, so plan accordingly.

This was a very interesting look into the world of Farmer Boy, Laura Ingalls Wilder's book about her husband's childhood. THE HOUSE IS REMARKABLY INTACT. Anything that has been restored has been painstakingly researched, but MOST of the house and its furnishings are original. The barns are restorations using original foundations and some additional buildings have been added to demonstrate what a working farm of the period would have been like.

The tour guide was fantastic and accommodated questions of all sorts. Only my 15-month-old was bored by the tour. The others (ages 11-4) enjoyed it and stayed engaged the entire time (about 1.5 hours).

The admission fee is very affordable and the tour is EXCELLENT. Maybe re-read Farmer Boy before you go, because so much of the tour is based on scenes and events in the book.

There's a gift shop with items at varying price points and many books. There's also a small self guided museum. There's a cooler with some drinks, but no food is really available on premises. There is, however, a covered picnic area with many tables on a concrete foundation.

I highly recommend a visit to this site, especially for any Laura Ingalls Wilder fans.

I have a special fondness for this Museum as it's located only five miles from my hometown. I happen to visit during one of their annual events. The house is intact exactly the way it was for Almanzo growing up. The barns had to be torn down but we're rebuilt to the exact specifications that Almanzo had stated. They have a great collection of all things Little House on the Prairie and lots of examples of neat carriages and rickshaws that were used in the 1800's. The staff of volunteers were really wonderful and made you feel very welcome and had answers for all of our questions. It's such a beautiful setting for a wedding as there is space for a tent and lots of room to walk around. Plan to spend between 1 and 2 hours as there is a lot to see and enjoy. Be sure to check out their website for other neat upcoming events!!

Great historical place to visit with a guided tour which takes you through 3 replica barns, the original Wilder house, a school house and a museum with lots of artifacts and books. Really enjoyed this step back history stop. Highly recommend!

EXCELLENT! My tour guide, Jim, was informative and engaging. It was fascinating the learn about life on a successful farm, so far north, and about people I have been familiar with my whole life. To see the places as deacribed so vividly in Farmer Boy was truly a bucket list moment. Camden, who worked in the gift shop/museum was friendly and helpful. I was there for four hours. I HIGHLY recommend a visit to everyone.

Wilder Homestead AKA Boyhood Home of Almanzo Wilder is a 2 story, Greek Revival frame farmhouse, built in 1843. which they property the farm around 1875. then in became an educational center, museum and working farm as describe in Laura Ingalls Wilder book Farmer Boy. we spent a few hours this pass July 8th and i couldn't help imagining what it must of been like living here. even on that day i could feel the peace of the farm. they have a nice little visitor center, gift shop & museum with other outbuildings. even a pavilion for small groups. the staff was very friendly, jolly and was a pleasure to talk with. the tour guide was an expert on Almanzo & Laura doing his own studies and visiting all their homestead throughout the U.S.. not only was he knowledgeable, he looked the part. he gave is tours like it was is first one. filled with happiness and excitement. you could tell he got joy out of sharing the stories and keeping the tours interesting. this wasn't a planned stop. my family and i stumble across this site and was sure glad we did.