Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Secret Time in Iowa—Why She Erased This Chapter from Her Books!
Most fans don’t know Laura Ingalls Wilder spent a forgotten year in Burr Oak, Iowa—a shocking omission from her famous books! 🌐 #News #BurrOakIA #Iowa #Travel
BURR OAK, IA – When people hear the name Laura Ingalls Wilder, they often picture a cheerful young girl in a prairie dress, running down a sunlit hill—thanks to the iconic 1980s TV show. But before her life became a beloved on-screen tale, Laura spent a lesser-known but deeply significant year of her childhood in the small village of Burr Oak, Iowa. This stop in the Ingalls family’s journey, though absent from her famous books, is an essential piece of her real-life story.
This past summer, my hubby Jack and I had the chance to visit Burr Oak and experience this hidden piece of history firsthand. Standing where Laura once lived, it’s easy to imagine the resilience and determination that defined her early years.
A Stop That Never Made the Books
In 1876, the Ingalls family arrived in Burr Oak after suffering back-to-back crop failures in Minnesota. Broke and in need of work, Charles and Caroline Ingalls took jobs as caretakers of the Masters Hotel, owned by friends from Walnut Grove—the town immortalized in Laura’s On the Banks of Plum Creek.
Unlike other locations in her books, Burr Oak is sometimes called The Missing Link in the Little House series. Laura deliberately left it out, opting to streamline her storytelling. Her real-life detour to Iowa didn’t fit the westward expansion theme of the books, and she was known to simplify events for the sake of a strong narrative.
But while she never wrote about it, Burr Oak held some of the Ingalls family’s most defining moments. They arrived with almost nothing and, within the year, faced both heartache and joy—the tragic death of Laura’s baby brother, Freddie, followed by the birth of her youngest sister, Grace.
The Only Original Ingalls Home Still Standing
While many of Laura’s childhood homes have been relocated or reconstructed, the Masters Hotel in Burr Oak remains in its original location. Today, it is part of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum, drawing over 6,000 visitors a year. The museum preserves the pioneer lifestyle with carefully staged exhibits of 19th-century tools, household artifacts, and handcrafted artwork.
Guests can step into history by ringing the bell at the same church the Ingalls family attended, dressing up in pioneer-era clothing, or posing in a replica covered wagon. The grounds also include a kitchen garden with medicinal and culinary herbs—just like those used by families in Laura’s time.
For those wanting to dig deeper, the Burr Oak Cemetery offers another connection to Laura’s past. She spent many Saturdays walking among the gravestones as a child, reflecting on the lives of those who came before her.
A Destination for Little House Fans
Visitors to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Visitor Center, located in the historic Burr Oak Savings Bank, can explore rare family photographs, letters, and a collection of books written by and about the Ingalls family. The museum has also acquired a former mercantile building next door, with plans for restoration as funding allows.
Each year, Laura Days brings history to life with a weekend of pioneer-themed events, including a 5K run, a parade, craft demonstrations, and children’s activities. Guests can also enjoy a traditional church service in the restored Advent Christian Church, just as the Ingalls family once did.
Though it never made it into her books, Burr Oak remains a crucial part of the Little House legacy, preserving the real-life struggles and triumphs of one of America’s most beloved pioneers.
Plan Your Visit
Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum
📍 Burr Oak, Iowa
☎️ (563) 735-5916
Hours:
- May: Monday-Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM | Sunday, 12 PM–4 PM
- Memorial Day to Labor Day: Monday-Saturday, 9 AM–5 PM | Sunday, 12 PM–4 PM
- September to Mid-October: Thursday-Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM
Guided tours are available daily, with the last tour departing one hour before closing. Groups of 10 or more should call ahead for reservations. For more details, visit: lauraingallswilder.us.
RELATED TOPICS: History | Iowa | Lifestyle | Travel
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