Back on July 3, 2018 an incredible storm hit Walnut Grove, Minnesota site of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Plum Creek. 9 inches of rain fell leading to over 3 feet above flood stage surged into Plum Creek. I reported on it with reports from the scene and including photos and videos 3 times that year on July 7th and July 9th and September 7th.
The damage included a deep trench carved into road between the town and the pageant site and was so bad they had to completely cancel the shows the first weekend, but they were able to patch together a show by the second weekend.
When I visited Walnut Grove during July 2022 they had a sign up explaining the changes to the area. I knew the flood had really damaged the pageant grounds, but I hadn’t realized how much it had damaged the dugout spot and how much restoration was needed. They had a sign posted with a QR code. I’ve included it below, but it takes you to this video.
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 , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
Sarah's Notebook 