Almanzo Wilder Homestead - Almanzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder Association — Attraction in Town of Burke

Kamden was our tour guide and did an excellent job. As a ten-year musical re-enactor at the Pepin site, I was very pleased to see that our eastern brethren are doing an amazing job, keeping the legacy alive at this remote rural museum. The original house from Farmer Boy stands on eighty four original acres. From original documents, they've rebuilt exact replica barns and the schoolhouse, which surround the museum and gift shop. Displays include documents, records, photos, illustrations, furnishings and artifacts. Demonstrations are held of traditional crafts and farm skills. There are a large fruit orchard, virgin sugar maple trees, a large display of vintage and antique farm tools, sleighs and buggies, working floor loom, textiles, Mother's weaving, working pump organ, large display of vintage and antique farm tools, sleighs and buggies, Aladdin lamps, kitchen and dairy tools, informative displays, and family photos. Not all furnishings and artifacts are original because the family had left the farm long ago. But the seam between original and replicated, is as smooth and fine as the edges of Mary's hand sewing. This is a genuine and authentic experience for those who love the books and honor the legacy. The staff are engaged, knowledgeable, and friendly. A really fun and informative destination and well...

Note: the last tour of the day begins at 3:00 sharp, so plan accordingly.

This was a very interesting look into the world of Farmer Boy, Laura Ingalls Wilder's book about her husband's childhood. THE HOUSE IS REMARKABLY INTACT. Anything that has been restored has been painstakingly researched, but MOST of the house and its furnishings are original. The barns are restorations using original foundations and some additional buildings have been added to demonstrate what a working farm of the period would have been like.

The tour guide was fantastic and accommodated questions of all sorts. Only my 15-month-old was bored by the tour. The others (ages 11-4) enjoyed it and stayed engaged the entire time (about 1.5 hours).

The admission fee is very affordable and the tour is EXCELLENT. Maybe re-read Farmer Boy before you go, because so much of the tour is based on scenes and events in the book.

There's a gift shop with items at varying price points and many books. There's also a small self guided museum. There's a cooler with some drinks, but no food is really available on premises. There is, however, a covered picnic area with many tables on a concrete foundation.

I highly recommend a visit to this site, especially for any Laura Ingalls...

They have done a MARVELOUS job restoring and maintaining the site. The farmhouse is original, and furnished with period appropriate antiques and decor. The Barns and outbuildings are on the original foundations, and built with period details, including stock barns, machine shed, threshing barn, working (!) pump house and chicken house. (the The only one missing is the ice house, which may be re-built in future. They added a one-rooms school house (which was not there historically) to show what that was like. Original Maple trees (from the Wilder's time) are along the road. In the loom room are some original textiles. In the gift shop/museum are actual relics and artifacts.

But wait! There's more...follow the path down to the Trout river and see Almanzo's fishing spot, and the general location of the ice pond, and sheep pens. If you go to town (Malone) you can see the still existing (although presumably enlarged and more built up) County fairgrounds and other sites around town.

Overall, this place is everything you could expect, and more. Well worth the effort...