Laura Ingalls Wilder erased this Iowa town from her Little House books – here’s why

Burr Oak’s Campaign to Save Laura’s Missing Years

Burr Oak, Iowa found a gap in history books in the early 1970s.

Locals learned that Laura Ingalls Wilder had lived in their town as a nine-year-old girl, a time she never wrote about in her famous Little House series.

Soon after, four town folks bought the run-down Masters Hotel for just $1,500. The old building, where the Ingalls family once lived and worked, was falling apart.

Yet through bake sales, grants, and even kids’ “Pennies for Laura” drives, they fixed it up. After three years of hard work, the museum opened in 1976.

Today, this “Missing Link” in Laura’s story draws fans from across the world to the only childhood home still standing on its first spot.

Small Town Folks Stumbled Upon Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Secret Chapter

People in Burr Oak, Iowa made a surprise find in the early 1970s.

They learned Laura Ingalls Wilder, the famous Little House writer, lived in their town from 1876-1877 when she was nine.

This time never showed up in her books, creating what fans call the “Missing Link” between her Minnesota and Dakota stories. The Ingalls family helped run the Masters Hotel after grasshoppers ruined their Minnesota farm.

The town soon realized they had the only Laura Ingalls childhood home still standing in its original spot.

Laura’s Daughter Visited Decades Before The Big Discovery

Rose Wilder Lane, Laura’s daughter, stopped by Burr Oak in 1932, long before the town started saving the building. Her visit left early proof of the family’s link to the small Iowa town.

Curious locals later wrote letters straight to Laura, asking if she really lived there as a child. Laura wrote back and said yes, the family did spend time in Burr Oak.

This proof got the community excited about saving this forgotten piece of American book history.

The Old Masters Hotel Was Nearly Beyond Saving

The Masters Hotel building was in terrible shape by the early 1970s. For over 100 years, people used it as a private home, and years of neglect left it falling apart.

Built in 1856, it was one of the few pre-Civil War hotel buildings still standing in Iowa. The community faced a hard truth: without quick action, this piece of book history would be gone forever.

At first, some people weren’t sure which building had actually been the hotel where the Ingalls family lived.

Four Locals Bought A Crumbling Landmark For $1,500

In 1973, four people from Burr Oak stepped up and bought the old Masters Hotel for just $1,500. They formed Laura Ingalls Wilder Park, Inc. to handle the purchase and fix up the building.

These community members wanted to turn the rundown building into a museum about Laura’s time in their town.

The effort started with no big money sources, relying only on local drive and hard work to save this piece of history.

Neighbors Rolled Up Their Sleeves To Save History

Local helpers jumped right in to fix the century-old building to match how it looked in 1876. People from around town gave many hours of skilled and basic work to save the crumbling structure.

They focused on fixing it accurately while removing modern parts from its years as a private home.

The volunteer work showed the community really cared about saving this overlooked piece of American book history for future visitors.

Kids Collected Pennies To Help Fund The Restoration

Local schoolchildren started “Pennies for Laura” drives, gathering small donations throughout the town. Students became active helpers in saving the building, learning they were keeping an important piece of history.

Their work created a special link between Laura’s childhood and modern-day young people. These kid-led money drives helped add much-needed cash for fixing materials and supplies when money got tight.

Money Came In From Bake Sales, Grants, And Donations

Community helpers looked for and asked for various grants to support their dream of fixing the hotel. Local fundraising events popped up all over town to get money for materials, tools, and expert help when needed.

The mix of grants, gifts, and free labor stretched their limited budget to cover needed costs. The project took three full years of fundraising and volunteer work to change from old house to museum.

Volunteers Recreated The 1870s Hotel Experience

The town’s project followed history-correct standards to remake how the hotel looked when Laura lived there.

Helpers collected old-time furniture and items to show what pioneer life was like during the Ingalls family’s stay. They got the building ready to meet museum rules for public access and safety.

Research guided their work to make sure displays correctly showed the family’s time during their hard year in Burr Oak.

The Museum Finally Opened Its Doors In June 1976

After three years of volunteer work, grant writing, and steady fundraising, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum officially opened in June 1976.

The opening marked the end of an all-community effort to save the building. Local citizens changed what was once a falling-down private home back into a public landmark.

The project showed that small towns could save major historic places through teamwork and drive.

Burr Oak Gained National Recognition For Their Efforts

The fixed-up Masters Hotel earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The museum started bringing in visitors from across America and around the world, bringing attention to tiny Burr Oak.

The success of the local project sparked similar community saving efforts elsewhere. Volunteers kept professional museum standards while keeping the community spirit that created the place alive.

A $1,500 Investment Created A Lasting Cultural Treasure

Today the museum welcomes over 6,000 visitors yearly from all 50 states and many countries.

The modest $1,500 purchase in 1973 has brought decades of cultural and economic benefits to the small community of just a few hundred people.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum operates as a nonprofit organization, continuing the community-focused mission.

The success story shows how dedicated citizens can save irreplaceable pieces of American literary history that might otherwise be lost forever.

Visiting Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Iowa

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum at 3603 236th Ave in Burr Oak preserves the author’s forgotten childhood years. You can only visit through guided tours, with the last one starting an hour before closing.

Adults pay $10, kids 6-17 pay $6, and under 5 get in free. The visitor center sits in a restored 1910 bank building with the original vault.

It’s open May through October, Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm. Groups of 10 or more should call 563-735-5916 ahead.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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