Catch up what’s going on this month in Laura Ingalls Wilder fandom with Trundlebed Tales May Update Podcast.
I had originally posted the information below on my personal blog, but at Connie Neumann’s request I am reposting it here with a couple of short additions.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Season has officially gotten underway again. If you plan a Laura trip before they open, make double 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.
Listed below are the Laura Ingalls Wilder homesites that have a museum attached. Those that only have a sign or the spot where a house used to stand or a gravestone, etc. are of course available all year. The ones where I have listed hours are when I was asked to when I made the call to confirm the opening. I urge you, from the hard won experience of driving 9 hours and finding Rocky Ridge closed, to contact them directly and get the hours straight from them before you make a special trip to any homesite (or any other museum).
Pepin, WI – Opens May 15, 2013
Kitchen Display at Pepin
Independence, KS – Opened April 4, 2013
Walnut Grove, MN – Museum opened April 1, 2013. Dugout Site not open until 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.
Burr Oak, IA – Opened April 1, 2013, Mon.-Sat. 10am-4pm, Sun. 12-4, After Memorial Day Mon.-Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 12-4. (Note: This fall their schedule will change slightly they’ll be open Tues.-Sun after Labor Day until the close of the season Oct. 13th.)
De Smet, SD –
Memorial Society – Open in April Mon.-Fri. 9am-4pm, in May Mon.-Sat. 9am-4pm, June-August 9am-5:30pm
Ingalls Homestead – Opens Memorial Day Weekend, Sat., May 25, 2013 for regular 9am -7pm every day with activities from 10am -6pm schedule. They are hosting school visits M-F beginning April 29. 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 1st, 2013
Malone, NY – Opens Saturday before Memorial Day, Sat., May 25, 2013 and then open 7 days a week. I asked and they said the one-room school replica exterior is now done, they still hope to get more for the interior.
Spring Valley, MN – Opens May 18-19 from 10-4 each day for the Wilder Fest. Then starts regular hours on Memorial Day Weekend, Sat., May 25, 2013.
Keystone, SD – Opens June 1, 2013
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 have Little House Site Tours on the following dates starting at 9:30 a.m.: July 16, August 5, and September 23. Anyone is welcome to join us. Also, we will give a tour any day Monday through Friday. Because the Old Main roof construction will not be done now until sometime in November, people might want to call for directions/assistance into the building. They may call Justin Ruegg at 319-472-5221, Extension 1226 or myself at 319-472-5221, Extension 1110.”
Sarah S. Uthoff blogs at TrundleBed Tales; look for her on Twitter and YouTube and Blog Talk Radio
Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association, Vice-President and Membership Chair