The Incredible Story Of “Little House On The Prairie’s” Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder was an American children’s book author, best known as the author of the Little House on the Prairie series. The children’s book series was released from the years 1932 until 1943 and was based on Laura’s childhood in a settler and pioneer family. The critically-acclaimed books garnered vast interest and are still read across the world to this very day.

Laura was born in Wisconsin on February 7, 1867 to Charles Phillip and Caroline Lake Ingalls. Laura had 3 other sisters, Mary Amelia, Carrie and Grace Pearl. The real-life documentation of Laura and her family’s lives in the late 1800’s captured the attention of readers all over the globe, especially in America.

There were originally eight books that drew from the real-life childhood experiences of Laura Ingalls, both today there’s a whopping 45! The books further entered public consciousness when they were turned into a television show during the ‘70s and ‘80s. NBC produced over 200 episodes of the said show, with the last produced in 1983. Melissa Gilbert portrayed Laura Ingalls while Michael Landon played Charles Ingalls, the patriarch of the family. The show went on to win four Emmy awards and 2 Young Artist Awards. You can still see it on air today, remaining popular in syndicated reruns.

The American Library Association’s book award for children’s literature ‘The Newbery Medal’ included Laura Ingalls Wilder as a runner-up 5 times. In 1954, they inaugurated a lifetime achievement award named ‘The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal’ to honor artists and authors who made “a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children”. Laura’s incredible legacy continues to live on. Take a look at her incredibly life story, it is nothing short of amazing.

Ma And Pa In Real Life

You are looking at the photo of the original Ma and Pa from the Little House books: Charles and Caroline Ingalls. This image was captured on the day of their wedding, February 1, 1860. At the time, Charles Ingalls was 24 years old and Caroline Lake Quiner was 21. He grew up in Campton Township in Illinois whereas Caroline worked as a schoolteacher. The couple decided to settle down in Pepin County, Wisconsin. They welcomed Mary Amelia, their first daughter, in January 1865. Laura followed not long after in 1867. Two years after this, Charles felt some wanderlust and the family relocated to Missouri.