On the Banks of Plum Creek Dugout Homesite

During my summer trip to Minnesota, I was thrilled to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota where On the Banks of Plum Creek took place. It was also the site (in name) for the television show Little House on the Prairie loosely inspired by Wilder's books.

Just a few hours after my arrival at the airport, I was in the museum store for a book signing. In my previous blog post, I shared about the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. It was wonderful.

After some time in the museum, I attended the Wilder Pageant that first night. I really enjoyed it. I'm so glad the family festival at the museum coordinates with the Wilder Pageant.

After a late night with the pageant, I was eager to get to the Ingalls dugout homesite Saturday morning. I wasn't disappointed.

After parking, we walked across a footbridge. The creek was shallow, but I could imagine it roaring.

There is no longer a dugout along the creek, but visitors can see the creek as well as the precise location where the Ingalls family dugout had been.

Below, I am in front of the dugout depression so you can see how tiny it was. Honestly, I cannot imagine!

I really appreciated the native plants. I felt like I was seeing and hearing a lot of what Laura would have as a young girl on a summer day.

The photograph above was taken just a few feet away from the dugout depression (and where it would have been level with the dugout roof). Look closely. Do you see the trees along the skyline on the right? Driving through Minnesota, I was surprised at the number of small forests--until I remembered the tree claims where homesteaders planted trees.

I really appreciated my time in Walnut Grove, Minnesota hosted by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. Did you know they have (at the time of this writing) autographed copies of my book The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide? You can shop their store or email them to have it shipped to you! They have a fabulous store!

More Walnut Grove?

Want to know more about Walnut Grove, Minnesota and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum? I shared in these blog posts.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum: Walnut Grove, Minnesota

On the Banks of Plum Creek Dugout Homesite (this blog post)

Walnut Grove, Minnesota's Little House Legacy

If you want to read about some of my other bookish summer adventures, you can at my author blog.

Annette Whipple writes nonfiction books for children, including The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide which includes history, discussion, photographs, and 75 activities so readers can "live like Laura." Learn more about her books and presentations at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.