Laura Ingalls Wilder Biographical Timeline | American Masters - PBS

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Laura Ingalls Wilder, c. 1930s. Photo: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

February 7, 1867

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls is born in “the little house in the Big Woods” outside of Pepin, Wisconsin.

February 7, 1867

PHOTO: A replica of the house that was described in the book "Little House in the Big Woods" near Pepin, Wisconsin.

1870

The Ingalls family moves to Kansas (described in Wilder’s book, "Little House on the Prairie").

1870 1871

The Ingalls family returns to Pepin, Wisconsin.

1871 1874

The Ingalls family moves to Walnut Grove, MN (described in Wilder’s book, "On the Banks of Plum Creek").

1874

PHOTO: The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

1876

The Ingalls family moves to Burr Oak, Iowa.

1876

PHOTO: The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa.

1878

The Ingalls family returns to Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

1878 1879

The Ingalls family moves west to unsettled country in Dakota Territory (described in Wilder’s book, "By the Shores of Silver Lake").

1879

PHOTO: The surveyors' house the Ingalls family live in while in De Smet, South Dakota.

1880

Settlers build the town of De Smet on the prairie in Kingsbury County, Dakota Territory.

1880 1880-1881

The “hard winter” almost wipes out the town of De Smet (described in Wilder’s book, "The Long Winter").

1880-1881 1883

Wilder begins teaching at the Bouchie school (called “the Brewster school” in her book, "These Happy Golden Years"), and is courted by Almanzo Wilder.

1883 1885

Laura marries Almanzo Wilder in De Smet.

1885

PHOTO: Almanzo Wilder

1886

Laura and Almanzo’s daughter Rose is born (described in Wilder’s posthumously published book, "The First Four Years").

1886

PHOTO: Rose Wilder Lane

1889

Laura and Almanzo’s son is born and dies in De Smet.

1889 1891-1892

The Wilders briefly move to Florida, before returning to De Smet.

1891-1892 1894

The Wilders move to Mansfield, Missouri and purchase the land that becomes Rocky Ridge farm.

1894

PHOTO: Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Missouri.

1911

Wilder begins writing for "Missouri Ruralist."

1911 1925

Wilder’s story, “My Ozark Kitchen,” is published in "Country Gentleman" magazine.

1925 1928

Rose builds her parents the modern “Rock House” on a corner of the farm in Mansfield.

1928

PHOTO: Rock House in Mansfield, Missouri.

1931

Wilder completes a draft of her memoir, "Pioneer Girl."

1931 1932

"Little House in the Big Woods" is published.

1932 1933

"Farmer Boy" is published.

1933 1935

"Little House on the Prairie" is published.

1935 1936

Laura and Almanzo leave the Rock House and move back into their original farmhouse.

1936 1937

"On the Banks of Plum Creek" is published.

1937 1939

"By the Shores of Silver Lake" is published.

1939

PHOTO: Photo: Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum, Mansfield, MO.

1940

"The Long Winter" is published.

1940 1941

"Little Town on the Prairie" is published.

1941 1943

"These Happy Golden Years" is published.

1943 1949

Almanzo Wilder dies in Mansfield, Missouri.

1949 1953

The “uniform edition” of the “Little House” books, with new illustrations by Garth Williams, is published.

1953 1954

The American Library Association created the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for “lasting and significant contributions to children’s literature.” Wilder is the first recipient.

1954 1957

Laura Ingalls Wilder dies in Mansfield, Missouri.

1957 1962

"On the Way Home," Wilder’s diary of the trip from De Smet to Mansfield, is published.

1962 1971

"The First Four Years" is published.

1971 1974

"West from Home," a book of letters from Wilder to Almanzo sent during her 1915 trip to San Francisco, is published.

1974 1974-1984

"Little House on the Prairie," the television series, airs on NBC.

1974-1984 2005

"Little House on the Prairie," the miniseries, is broadcast on ABC.

2005 2008

"Little House on the Prairie: The Musical" premieres at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis and later tours the country.

2008 2014

"Pioneer Girl," Wilder’s original memoir, is published for the first time.

2014 2018

The American Library Association renames the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award as “The Children’s Literature Legacy Award,” citing concerns about Wilder’s depictions of Native Americans and Black people.

2018 2018

Caroline Fraser’s biography of Wilder, "Prairie Fires," wins the Pulitzer Prize.

2018 SHARE About the Master Photo of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls WilderWriterFeb 7, 1867 - Feb 10, 1957VIEW MASTER COLLECTION

Video Features

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page -- The letter from NY that changed Laura Ingalls Wilder's life

The letter from NY that changed Laura Ingalls Wilder's lifeThe news, at age 64, from a New York editor was unexpected for Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page -- Roxane Gay and others on racist “Little House” depictions

Roxane Gay and others on racist “Little House” depictionsRoxane Gay, Louise Erdrich and others discuss racist depictions in Wilder’s books.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page -- The word that Laura refused to say in her wedding vows

The word that Laura refused to say in her wedding vowsLaura Ingalls' courtship with Almanzo Wilder led to a unique wedding ceremony.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page -- Until she was an author, money was a struggle for Wilder

Until she was an author, money was a struggle for WilderUntil she became a best-selling author, making ends meet was a struggle.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page -- The secret mother-daughter collaboration on “Little House”

The secret mother-daughter collaboration on “Little House”Recent scholarship has shed light on this secret collaboration.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page -- Disaster was looming when the Ingalls moved to Minnesota

Disaster was looming when the Ingalls moved to MinnesotaDisaster struck with the arrival of the Rocky Mountain locust invasion of 1875.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page -- How the logs of the "Little House" cabin were stolen

How the logs of the "Little House" cabin were stolenHow the logs that Charles Ingalls used for the little house belonged to Osage Indians.

Written Features

The subtle libertarian politics of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” booksWilder was not a fan of Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" programs.

What should be done about racist depictions in the “Little House” books?In some instances, racist passages in the "Little House" series were amended in newer editions...

8 Interesting facts about Laura Ingalls WilderLearn more about the real life of the pioneering author.

What’s it like to attend “Laurapalooza,” the conference for Laura Ingalls Wilder superfans (“bonnetheads”)?Writer Sandra Hume reveals what can be learned at Wilder fan conferences.

A “Little House” adulthood: How the books changed when I grew up"Perhaps when we re-read the "Little House" books as adults, they stop being children’s books...

In promoting the “myth of white self-sufficiency,” the “Little House” books rewrite historyWriter Lizzie Skurnick on how bigotry "...is the driving force of the narrative."

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s famous gingerbread recipeWhenever she brought her gingerbread to a church social or party, it always disappeared!

A replica of the house that was described in the book "Little House in the Big Woods" near Pepin, Wisconsin.

Laura Ingalls Wilder biographical timelineExplore the life and career of the author.

Favorite quotes from the “Little House” books"She had not known before that it takes two to make a smile."

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 1916 column for Thanksgiving reminds us to “just be glad that we...In this column from 1916, Wilder reminds us to be thankful of aspects of life...

10 of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s most inspiring quotes“The future is in our hands to make it what we will.”

127 songs are mentioned in the “Little House” books. This playlist presents many of them.The pages of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books are filled with the music of...