Laura Ingalls Wilder moved to Missouri in 1894, leaving behind the harsh conditions and personal tragedies the Wilder family had experienced in De Smet, South Dakota. She and her husband, Almanzo Wilder, along with their young daughter Rose, made the move in hopes of building a better life—and that decision ultimately led them to the place where they would spend the rest of their lives.
Their new home in Mansfield, Missouri, would become known as Rocky Ridge Farm, a place that not only provided stability but also served as the setting where Laura would later write her iconic Little House books.
Why Did the Wilders Move to Missouri?
The decision to move came after a series of devastating hardships in South Dakota:
Almanzo had contracted diphtheria in 1888, which left him partially disabled.
The couple lost their infant son in 1889, a loss that deeply affected them.
Successive crop failures, harsh winters, and financial instability made farming in De Smet unsustainable.
With little money and a desire for a fresh start, the family decided to seek new opportunities farther south. Missouri offered fertile farmland, a milder climate, and the chance to escape the difficult conditions of the Dakota prairie.
The Journey to Mansfield, Missouri (1894)
In July 1894, the Wilders packed up their belongings, loaded their wagon, and began their journey from De Smet to Mansfield, Missouri. The trip covered over 600 miles and took several weeks. Laura later documented the trip in her diary, which was published posthumously as On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894.
The diary captures not only the physical details of the journey—roads, towns, weather—but also Laura’s observations about people, prices, and the possibilities that lay ahead. It gives readers a rare glimpse into Laura’s adult voice and experiences, long before she became a published author.
Life at Rocky Ridge Farm
Once in Missouri, the Wilders purchased 40 acres of land just outside Mansfield and named it Rocky Ridge Farm. At first, they lived in a small, one-room cabin and worked hard to build a successful life from the ground up.
Over the next several years, the farm expanded, and so did their home. Laura and Almanzo raised livestock, planted orchards, and built a larger farmhouse, which is still standing today.
It was at Rocky Ridge Farm that Laura:
Wrote for local publications like the Missouri Ruralist
Developed her writing voice and personal philosophy
Eventually wrote the Little House series, beginning with Little House in the Big Woods in 1932
Laura lived at Rocky Ridge Farm from 1894 until her death in 1957. Almanzo passed away there in 1949.
Visiting Rocky Ridge Farm Today
Today, Rocky Ridge Farm is preserved as the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum in Mansfield, Missouri. Visitors can tour:
The original farmhouse, built by Laura and Almanzo
The stone house their daughter Rose had built for them in the 1920s
A museum with original manuscripts, family heirlooms, and personal items
The graves of Laura, Almanzo, and their daughter Rose, all buried in Mansfield
The site attracts thousands of fans and history enthusiasts each year and offers a powerful glimpse into the real lives behind the legendary stories.
