Little House… in the Adirondacks

There are plenty of historical sites in the Adirondacks, but not all of them have to do with the many Adirondack buzzwords we’ve discussed: Great Camps, logging, mining, forts, railroads, lakes and forest preserves. Some historical Adirondack sites are quite unique and individual, such as the Almanzo Wilder Homestead. It just so happens that Almanzo Wilder was husband to Laura Ingalls, the famous and beloved author of the Little House book series. Almanzo spent much of his childhood in the Adirondacks, near Malone, New York. He was born into a large family- the fifth of six children- in 1857 and the Wilders lived on their little farm up north until crop failure forced them West to Minnesota in 1870. He later moved to South Dakota with his older brother and sister in 1879, where he met Laura Ingalls.

            Almanzo’s childhood story is featured in Farmer Boy, the second book Laura published in her series. The book describes how Almanzo went to school when he was not needed at home to help with farm work. In the book, he also learned to drive a team of oxen, went to county fairs, and participated in community life in a mid-19th century town in the Adirondacks. Almanzo loved horses and farming, and was also a master carpenter and woodworker. His Adirondack upbringing almost certainly played a large role in the lifestyle he chose to lead, and the theme of rugged, frontier-style living followed him his entire life.

            The homestead itself includes the house, in a Greek Revival style, built circa 1840, restored and furnished in a historically accurate manner, and a large barn that was completely rebuilt using the original beams. Some of Almanzo’s possessions and handiwork can be found at the homestead as well. This site is the base of the Almanzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder Association (ALIWA) which is dedicated to providing accurate and educational opportunities. The site now boasts a museum, visitor center, research library and archives, an orchard, covered picnic pavilion, and nature trail to the Wilder family frontage on the Trout River. ALIWA provides programs on the Homestead including narrated tours, workshops, an artifact museum, demonstrations, nature walks, archival research availability, school tours, and special events. During the summer months, the Almanzo Wilder Homestead might be worth a visit, especially for visitors who grew up loving the Little House on the Prairie.

Sources

http://www.almanzowilderfarm.com/index.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almanzo_Wilder

http://visitadirondacks.com/attractions/heritage/almanzo-wilder-homestead