2004 Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant

Below is Susan's story about her experience at the pageant this year with her personal photos at the end of the story.

I grew up loving the TV show, "Little House on the Prairie." I loved everything about Laura and her life and I often daydreamed of even living on the prairie. Somehow, some way I ended up moving to Minnesota a few years ago. As an adult, I was excited to discover that I lived so close to many of Laura's real homes. My home visit was to Burr Oak, then South Troy, Pepin, Spring Valley and a few weeks ago, Walnut Grove.

Walnut Grove has been my favorite home site of Laura's. My sister-in-law and her daughter, Paige, made the trip with me to Walnut Grove. We had decided that Paige should enter the Nellie Oleson Look-Alike contest. Paige, who is 8, is an avid Little House TV fan and ended up being a finalist in the Look-Alike contest. There is only one small campground in Walnut Grove and it was full by the time we got there Friday afternoon so we ended up camping in Tracy which also has ties to Laura. Friday night we went to see the Wilder Pageant and and was much more than what I expected. I would highly recommend visitors to see this wonderful play.

The next day we spent much of the time at the Wilder Festival next to Plum Creek where they had food, crafts for kids and a band. The Look-Alike contest took a lot longer than we had expected. There were about 8 Nellie Oleson's compared to over 50 Laura's! After the contest we drove back to Walnut Grove and visited the gift shop and the museum. The museum housed many of Laura's personal possessions and some souvenirs and memorabilia from the TV show. Also on display was a small period church, school house, sod house, homesteader's house and another house that had period furnishings and an extensive doll collection.

The part of the trip I enjoyed the most was when we went to the dugout. When the Ingalls first moved to WG they lived in a dugout in the ground right by Plum Creek. The owners of the property have tried restore the prairie so that visitors can get an idea of what Laura saw when she was a child. Just standing along the creek and the dugout gave me shivers because I kept thinking, "This is where Laura and Mary played..." I think so many fans would enjoy Walnut Grove because it is so full of Laura's spirit. We left WG late that afternoon and I was kind of sad to leave. I realized I was having those same day dreams that I did as a child of running through the lush prairie grasses.

The experience really touched my heart and made me love Laura even more. All I can say is that I am so thankful that there are people out there making an effort to preserve the Ingalls' and Wilder's stories of frontier life.

Pictures from the event. With captions by Susan.

	The beautiful prairie that Pa and Laura loved so much. You can also see the tableland that Laura writes about in the books. This is where Laura played as a child.
	The site of the Ingalls old dugout home and the land they lived on by Plum Creek was the best part of Walnut Grove. It still gives me chills as I picture Laura and Mary playing outside and living in this actual spot!
	The big rock near the dugout that Laura wrote about in "On the Banks of Plum Creek."
	Tracy, MN is where the Ingalls (minus Pa) caught the train to Brookings, SD on their way to De Smet, SD. It's 7 miles west of Walnut Grove.
	The creek that Laura swam in, fished in, waded in, and almost drowned in! This is right by their dugout home.
	Some of Laura's personal belongings including two hankerchiefs and a pair of eyeglasses.
	This mantle was used on the set of the NBC TV series.
	Laura's Sewing Basket.
	Sewing items that belonged to Laura.
	The book on the left is the book of animals that Pa would read to the girls, Laura mentions this book in her series. Also on display was some table settings and a book that Laura owned.
	This is a quilt that Laura and her daughter, Rose, hand-stitched.
	Covered Wagon at the Museum.
	A replica of a sod house at the Walnut Grove Museum.
	Paige in an old school desk at the Museum.
	The Ingalls Arrive. The beginning of the LIW pageant.
	Pa has just traded the wagon and Pet and Patty for their land at Plum Creek and two oxen at the LIW pageant.
	Spot "Reet." The Ingalls buy a cow, who is called "Reet" by the Norweigian family who means wreath. Laura decides to name the cow Spot, for obvious reasons. This is at the LIW pageant.
	The church is finished!
	In the school house
	Oleson's store during the LIW pageant.
	Laura look a like contestant.
	A Nellie Look a like. This little girl was so cute! I just adored her dress, very Victorian!
	The Nellie Group. Talk about one snobby little group. The second from the left is Paige, my niece, and the one to the right of her won the contest.
	Look a like contestants. More girls at the contest.
	Laura look a like contest. There were over 50 girls competing in the Laura look a like contest, and only 7 in the Nellie look a like contest. Nellie obviously doesn't have too many fans!
	My niece, Paige, in the Nellie look a like contest. She was a finalist.
	Megan and Paige as Laura and Nellie. Both were finalist and did a small skit together on the stage.
	Nellie with her stick candy.
	Nellie look a like winner. This girl was all dolled up. She had white gloves and a real mink around her shoulders!
	Winner of the Laura look a like contest. I was so happy that she won! She was so cute!
	Winner of the Laura look a like contest talking to a reporter.

As soon as I saw this little girl (pictured above) I thought of Laura. She really has the spirit of Laura Ingalls and is a big fan. Coincidently, her real name is also Laura Elizabeth!

The photo on the top of this page on the far right was taken by Val Hoeppner For The Washington Post. As pictured in the photo, Laura Rybka, 10, center, is thrilled to win the Laura Ingalls Wilder look-alike contest July 10 in Walnut Grove, Minn., where women and girls gather to find the Laura within.

For more detailed information on the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant visit www.walnutgrove.org

Design by Lennon Parker