Museum.Having crossed the road from the car park to Rocky Ridge farm, the first thing to be noticed is the large museum building right next to Laura and Almanzo's house over which it dominates. The museum contains objects once owned by Laura or members of her family. There are many photographs, articles of clothing and domestic objects such as plates, kitchen tools and jewelry. There is even Laura's revolver. In the centre stands a replica of the cart used by Laura, Almanzo and their daughter Rose. Inside are several objects including the writing case in which a $100 note got lost and caused so much trouble. Of all the exhibits, of particular interest is Pa's fiddle, Ma's sewing machine and Mary's nine-patch quilt as these featured prominently in the books. Many items in the museum bring home the historical reality of Laura and her family. You are left in no doubt that Laura and her family were real people, for here are the very objects mentioned in her books.
At Rocky Ridge there is a book and gift shop with postcards, ornaments, books, clothes and toys. I particularly liked the shepherdess and a tin cup complete with candy and penny! However in common with all the bookshops at all the sites it also stocks the speculative fiction from Harper Collins which pretends to be accounts of Laura's female ancestors. Of this perhaps the least said, the better!
Rocky Ridge Museum, Rocky Ridge House, Mansfield, Mansfield Cemetery
Kansas Prairie, Independence Kansas, Keystone South Dakota,
De Smet, Pa's Claim site, The Homestead, De Smet Cemetery, De Smet Pageant.
Tracy, Walnut Grove Museum, Plum Creek, Walnut Grove Pageant.
South Troy, Lake Pepin, Pepin Museum, Big Woods house.
Burr Oak, Ia., Vinton Iowa.
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Words Copyright ©, 2000 - Phil Greetham.