Laura Homesites Open for the Season 2018

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Season has officially gotten underway again. If you plan a Laura trip before they open, make sure you call ahead. The homesite museums that are not fully open, may or may not be able to accommodate you by opening the museum, etc. or giving lists of what there is to see.

Wagon Ride at DeSmet Pageant

2018 Opening Dates

Pepin, WI – Opens May 11, 2018

Independence, KS – Opened April 1, 2018

Walnut Grove, MN – The visitor/gift shop stays open all year round with reduced hours in the off season.
April 1, 2018 the ground open and the hours expand to include weekends.
(Mon.-Sat. 10:00 am-4:00 pm; Sun. 12 Noon-4:00 pm)
May 1, 2018 they expand weekend hours again
(Mon.-Sat. 10:00 am-5:00 pm; Sun. 12 Noon-5:00 pm)
June 1, 2018 hours extend to 10:00 am – 6:00 pm daily.

Dugout Site normally not open until sometime May. The date is dependent on weather conditions, if there is still snow or if it’s flooded it won’t open as early. Call ahead and check. But it’s now open for this year.

Burr Oak, IA – Opened May 1, 2018 Mon–Sat limited hours through May.
(Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm –Last tour 3:  on all days– Sunday: Noon – 4:00 pm) Hours expand with Memorial Day, May 28, 2018
(Monday-Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm-Last tour 4:00 pm- Sunday: Noon – 4:00 pm Last tour 3:00 pm)

DeSmet, SD –
Memorial Society – Opened limited hours in January – April, expand to Saturday during May (Monday thru Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
Goes to 7 days a week June 1, 2018 (Monday thru Friday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Sunday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm)

Ingalls Homestead – Opened Memorial Day Weekend for regular hours 9:00 am – 7:00 pm every day with activities from 10:00 am -6:00 pm. They host school visits M-F through May so if you plan on a visit before they officially open next year, you may not be out of luck.  Visitors are welcome to join up with a school group, but should call or email first to get specific times as they vary daily.  800-776-3594 – mail@ingallshomestead.com

Mansfield, MO –
Opened March 1, 2018 (Monday thru Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday: 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm)

Malone/Burke, NY –
Opens Sat., May 26, 2018

Spring Valley, MN –
Open Daily starting June 1, 2018

Keystone, SD – Opened April 30, 2018

Vinton, IA – Since they are kind of in a different situation, being part of an institution that has to be open all year. They don’t have stated open hours, but will gladly give a tour by appointment. Pat Barr wrote “We  will give a tour any day Monday through Friday. They may call Justin Ruegg at 319-472-5221, Extension 1226 or myself at 319-472-5221, Extension 1110.”

NOTE: The School for the Blind is in a state of upheaval. The regular school is moving to Council Bluffs to join with the School of the Deaf. If you want to tour, go as soon as you can.

Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , Google+, LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.

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Mentions April 2018

Sarah in DeSmet in April 2016

In April I got a couple of online articles talking about upcoming programs.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder Program May 2 at Museum.” Tama News-Herald, 25 April 2018, www.tamatoledonews.com/page/content.detail/id/606340/Laura-Ingalls-Wilder-Program-May-2-at-museum.html?nav=5017 Accessed 18 May 2018.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder Program May 2 at Historical Society.” Tama News-Herald, 25 April 2018, www.tamatoledonews.com/page/content.detail/id/606326/Laura-Ingalls-Wilder-Program-May-2-at-Historical-Society.html?nav=5006 Accessed 18 May 2018.

Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , Google+, LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.

National One-Room School Association Conference 2018

Every year the Country School Association of America holds a national conference on one and two room schools. The annual meetings alternate between a location somewhere in the Midwest and some other part of the country. This  year is the Midwest’s turn.

The conference will be June 17-20, 2018 in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Beatrice, Home of the Homestead

I’ve been really looking forward to the conference coming to Beatrice for a long time. Visiting the national park has long been on my life goals list. Beatrice is the home of the Homestead National Monument. Beatrice was chosen because it was the location of first file homestead claim. “…Daniel Freeman filed his claim 10 minutes after midnight at the Land Office in Brownville, NE on January 1, 1863, the first day the Homestead Act went into effect.” If you are a regular reader, you’ll remember I talked about the Homestead National Monument when an image of its main buildings was chosen for the Nebraska national park quarter.

Country School Association Conference

The Country School Association brings together museum volunteers, teachers, staff, faculty and students, preservationists, historians, re-enactors and interested citizen, to exchange ideas and resources.  It’s a very welcoming place. Whether you have memories of one-room schools, have researched them, teach in a real or museum one-room school, or are just interested in them, this is a great event.

Early Registration is Almost Up!

So, tempus fugit, NOW is the time to make the jump and REGISTER for the national one-room school conference!

Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , Google+, LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.

 

Ferry Ride

Reminding you that this is still a really cool alternative to driving though Chicago.

Sarah's Notebook

View from High Speed Express Ferry Coming into Michigan

I have wanted to try the Express Ferry across Lake Michigan for a long time. I hate to drive through Chicago and this is a way around that.  Today I finally got to. It was the high speed ferry, Express Ferry, between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegeon, Michigan. It took about two hours and was very well organized. It didn’t really save any time, but it was very enjoyable. It was kind of a choppy day and a couple of people felt sick, but I felt fine. Get there early. It was fairly easy to find the terminal to get on. It was more expensive than I was hoping, but I enjoyed it.

http://www.lake-express.com

UPDATED May 9 2018: I added my current signature block and the photo which is from the time of the original post.

Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known…

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T-Shirt of the Month May 2018

When I post my video diaries I always get comments about my Laura clothes. No, not my period dresses, but my Laura Ingalls Wilder t-shirts that I wear for travel and Laura trips. I thought everyone might enjoy a closer look at them. So enjoy our monthly series where we look at a Laura shirt.

Shirt of the Month

This is one of my hot weather Laura shirts. It’s a nice light color, in a women’s cut which is much more fitted. It’s thin material and has a v-neck. If you like that cut of shirt or you have a petite frame this shirt is the one for you.

The pattern is modeled off of a sports team shirt. It says “Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Walnut Grove, Minnesota” It also has a large 74. That stands for 1974. That’s the year both the TV show and the museum started.

Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , Google+, LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.

Indepedence, Kansas Update

In celebration of the new cabin going up on the “Little House on the Prairie” Museum site.

Sarah's Notebook

Unfortunately, it’s been almost 10 years now since my last trip to Independence. I hope to get back there soon. These photos are from my last trip. Just seeing their great signage on the way to the site makes you smile.

Director Amy Finney has been making positive changes.  This  year they are unveiling a new attraction, you’ll be able to dress up and get your photo taken and a digital print in sepia. It sounds like fun.

Amy is also trying to get more smaller events at the site. I don’t have a schedule yet, but they recently held kite day where visitors were encouraged to hand make and fly paper kites. They are also planning a summer class of “Prairie Girls” using the book Prairie Girls Guide to Life by Jennifer Worick.  According to Amy, “They will do the “whole nine yards” – tea party, ice cream, embroidery…

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Top 10 Posts During April 2018

Watching a Truck from the Trolley During the Reunion

Here are the blog posts and pages that have had the most views last month. Take a look maybe there is something there that will interest you too.

Mt Pleasant IA Midwest Old Threshers 2018 Events

April 2018 Laura Ingalls Wilder Events

Schedule of Presentations

Top 10 Posts During March 2018

Booking a Program

Truman Home Study Book List

In the Kitchen With Laura Project February 2014

Mansfield, MO – Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

T-Shirt of the Month April 2018

In the Kitchen With Laura July 2014

In the Kitchen With Laura Kerosene Lamps

Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , Google+, LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.