Laura Ingalls Wilder Trip June 26, 2011 Independence, Kansas to Mountain Grove, Missouri

Laura Ingalls Wilder Trip Sunday, June 26, 2011 Independence, Kansas and Travel Day

Our day started slowly as the  Ingalls Family “Little House on the Prairie”  historical site did not open until 1:00 PM. That morning, the  dark clouds threatened to pour any moment in the midst of thunder, but no lightning. It was already 86 degrees at 10:30 AM. There was a mansion in town called the Brown Mansion, owned by oil tycoon Mr. Brown,  and, even though it wasn’t open, we walked around the grounds. Karen saw a brilliant red Summer Tanager in the trees. We saw many magpies and circling turkey vultures.  Then we were back in the car to take a short drive to Independence, Kansas.

The Brown Mansion Coffeyville, Missouri We saw a Summer Tanager

We arrived at the prairie site around 11:45 AM. The land was flat as far as the eye could see, with waving grass and endless sky. 

Pa and Ma traveled by covered wagon 530 miles from Pepin, Wisconsin in 1870 to start a new life on the prairie. Pa built a log cabin on the site but later learned that land was not available to white settlers.  The Ingalls family and other settlers were caught in a dispute between several Indian tribes and the U.S. government over the land.  The family lived there about a year before giving up and moving back to Pepin. During their year on the prairie, their sister Carrie was born.  Also, It was here that the Ingalls family contracted malaria and almost died. A black doctor, Dr. Tann, who lived on a neighboring claim,  treated the family, returning them back to health.

A replica of the "Little House on the Prairie" 

Notice the chinking and insect holes.

We rambled over the land, imagining the Ingalls family building a life there. Unceasing wind. Hot. Slightly humid. Barn swallows flitting around. Calls from the mockingbirds from their various perches kept us company.

The long, flat, endless prairie

Debbie, Kathy, and Cynthia

During the next part of our long travel day, we saw all kinds of interesting things, while laughing, talking, singing and reading to each other. A sheriff’s car followed us for about seven miles. We witnessed some devastation from the tornadoes that damaged parts of Joplin, Missouri. Uprooted trees piled high for burning, a brick house with a missing roof and sales on storm shelters. 

We arrived at our hotel, in Mountain Grove, Missouri.  Suffice it to say that if we didn’t have such an icky motel one night, we would not have appreciated our other comfortable, clean and classy hotels.  We decided, sight unseen, to forgo the “free breakfast”, since none of us wish to enter the lobby ever again, which is where breakfast is served.   We left our motel, happily, for the evening,  toured the area, completely shut down due to the Sabbath, and finally ended up at Sonic Burger.  A local woman chatted with us about her night job in a factory and her favorite things to do in the area,  as she sat outside with us and enjoyed the cooling  evening breezes.