Wilder Homestead

Almanzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder Association (ALIWA), incorporated June 5, 1987, is a volunteer, historic, educational non-profit organization. The museum/home-stead consists of 84 acres of farmland, woods, restored ORIGINAL post and beam constructed farmhouse (1840-1843), reconstructed post and beam framed barns and outbuildings, a museum/visitor center/research library/ archives/gift shop/ office building complex, orchard, covered picnic pavilion, and nature trail to the Wilder family frontage on the Trout River .

This organization and historical site provide an educational opportunity through narrated tours, workshops, artifact museum, demonstrations, nature walk, archival research availability, school tours, and special events (i.e.. Christmas Story Hour, Harvest Festival & craft demonstrations and classes) for children and visitors to experience the period lifestyle of Almanzo Wilder who was born and raised here, 1857-1875. Interpretation of this site is based on the American classic book, Farmer Boy, written by Almanzo's wife, famed author, Laura Ingalls Wilder, as he described his recollections of his life here at this farm to her.

This historic house is the only ORIGINAL house on its original site of all those written about in the Little House book series. It is the only site dedicated to and original to Almanzo Wilder. It is an important piece of northern New York history.

One stop on the tour is the Wilder Homestead Museum, which is located in the same building as our newly expanded Gift Shop and General Store.

At the Museum you will see model replicas of the Homestead, which were used in the development of the barns and grounds, as well as many antiques from the time period.

The Museum houses a collection of antique tools which were used during the time the Wilders lived on the Homestead, as well as many other items.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of the Almanzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder Association is to educate people about the rural life in Northern New York from 1840 - 1875 through the preservation and restoration of the Wilder Homestead, Boyhood home of Almanzo Wilder, as depicted in Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

VISION STATEMENT:

The vision of the Almanzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder Association is to develop the Wilder Homestead into an interactive educational center, museum and working farm as in the time of Almanzo Wilder's childhood.

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