Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House on the Prairie book series, lived with her family at this location (1.5 miles north of Walnut Grove) on the banks of Plum Creek from 1874 to 1876. After three consecutive crop failures, the family moved to Burr Oak, IA to help operate the Masters Hotel.
The historical significance of the location was unknown to the owners until Garth Williams, an illustrator of Laura's books, had researched the Wilder family's trail in courthouse records. He approached the owners with the information, and the unusual depression near the creek was determined to be the remains of Wilder dugout home.
Today, the site is maintained by the owners of the property and is open to the public. Twenty-five acres of the surrounding land have been replanted with native grasses to enhance the experience.
