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Little House, a Cavern, and Tigers: A Family Weekend in Missouri

By Stephanie Duhon June 12, 2018

Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum

The view is just as beautiful as I imagined it would be, but it's the house that really stands out, frozen in time to give us a small glimpse into the life of an author who continues to encourage readers of each generation.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri, has been on my bucket list since I was first introduced to the Little House series at age 8. My aunt gave me the series for Christmas that year. Nearly 30 years later, I still have that set. It's worn and well-read, but it's perfect for reading to my girls and sharing how Laura's stories have inspired so many who came before us.

I couldn't wait to see Laura's house. Seeing how my girls reacted to it made it even more special. They were full of questions, and despite knowing a lot about Laura's life, I still learned new information on the house tour. I had no idea Laura was 4'11" and her husband Almanzo was 5'4". But one of the first things you notice when you walk into the house is that the countertops are low because Almanzo custom-made them for Laura. In fact, every nook and cranny speaks of them. This historic site is very unique because it was preserved shortly after Laura's death in 1957. As a result, all of the items in the home, from the furniture to the dishes, are original. They didn't have to be tracked down and brought back like most homes that are restored to their former glory. The Wilder house remains unchanged from how they kept it in the 1940s and 1950s - nothing has been removed or added.

The Wilders moved to Mansfield in 1894, calling the land Rocky Ridge Farm. Nearly 40 years later, Laura began writing the first Little House book about her childhood as a pioneer.

Near the home is a museum with more details about Laura, her family, and their travels and lives during that time period. There are several items readers of the books will recognize, including Pa's fiddle, which Laura mentions several times in her books.

Want to hear the melodic tunes for yourself? Pa's Fiddle comes out for the annual Wilder Days Festival each September. 

Another place worth noting on the property is the Rock House. This cottage was built for the Wilders as a gift from their daughter Rose. They lived there for about 8 years, but ended up returning to the main house.

For a Little House fan, such as myself, this place is a dream come true - a bucket list item that I got to share with my family. Now I want to visit all of the Little House sites - because the Ingalls moved so much, there are several sites across the country. See a full list here.

About 45 minutes to the west of Mansfield is the town of Springfield. While we were in the area, we took an extended weekend to visit some family-friendly sights there and I'm so glad we did! It's a great destination for families looking for unique stops to create memories. 

Fantastic Caverns

Just north of downtown Springfield is a cavern discovered in 1962 by a local farmer. After the Civil War, he wanted to open the cave to the public and put an article in the paper seeking cave explorers. My 7-year-old was wide-eyed to learn it was twelve women who answered and spent the day exploring the cave by torchlight in 1867. They left their names inscribed on one of the cave walls. 

 

Fantastic Caverns is so large, you tour it by Jeep. It takes about 55 minutes, but it didn't feel that long. Our tour guides were funny and knowledgeable and told us all about the various formations found in the cave, such as stalagmites and soda straws. One of the most impressive rooms is the Hall of Giants - it's full of brilliant formations. One cool tidbit our guides shared? In the 1960s, popular performers such as Buck Owens and Ray Price performed concerts before a live audience inside the cave.

National Tiger Sanctuary 

Our next stop was south of Springfield, at the National Tiger Sanctuary, a non-profit rescue organization that provides a permanent home for exotic and domestic animals. We took the awareness tour, where you learn more about the tigers and lions on the property and their backgrounds. This tour, which is about a fourth of a mile walk, really engaged both my 7-year-old and my 3-year-old. The guide gave backstories of each animal and fun facts. For example, did you know tigers sleep about 18-20 hours a day? When the guide said you could ask questions, my girls took it to heart and asked questions galore about each animal we saw, especially when we came to some white tigers. I love seeing their curiosity piqued and nurtured.

The sanctuary offers a feeding tour as well, where you can watch the tigers and lion eat and also see leopard and/or mountain lions.

Discovery Center

Our final stop was in the heart of Springfield, at the city's Discovery Center. This facility is perfect for families with kids of all ages. There are four floors of exhibits on a variety of science topics, including anatomy and health, space exploration, and physics and motion. My 7-year-old especially liked seeing how a tornado forms, while my 3-year-old couldn't get enough of the whispering tube.

We could've spent even more time in Springfield, there's so much to do there, including the Dickerson Park Zoo and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

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My family and I were guests of the attractions reviewed and admission was provided. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.