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Welcome to LIWLRA.org, the home of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association
—where prairie history, literature, and a passionate community come together
to celebrate one of America’s most beloved authors.
Since 2009, we’ve connected fans and scholars around the world
who are dedicated to exploring and preserving Laura Ingalls Wilder’s extraordinary legacy.
Our flagship event, LauraPalooza, is the only academic conference
dedicated solely to Wilder and her work.
Held every two to three years, this one-of-a-kind gathering has traveled
from Minnesota to Vermont, and in July 2025, we head west to Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
with a special visit to De Smet—the very town where Laura came of age
and her real-life story took shape.
As a member, you’ll receive our bi-monthly newsletter, packed with original articles,
event news, Wilder research, and updates from around the Wilder world
—delivered straight to your inbox.
It’s just one of the benefits of joining a vibrant, global network
of readers, researchers, and Little House enthusiasts.
The LIWLRA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered by volunteers from across the country.
Membership runs from January 1–December 31, and anyone can join anytime.
Become a member today and help us keep Laura’s story alive
—one season, one voice, one new discovery at a time.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association
is the only organization in the world that offers
consistent, unified support to all of Laura’s historic homesites.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are committed to preserving her legacy through direct financial support, scholarly engagement,
and public education.
Over the years, we have made significant donations to key historical sites associated with Laura’s life and the Little House books. These include:
In addition to supporting these homesites, we further our mission through public programming and educational initiatives
—including our acclaimed LauraPalooza conference,
which brings together readers, educators, and scholars
from around the world.
We are honored to have the support of esteemed Wilder scholars, including William Anderson, who praised our inaugural 2010 conference as “the Cadillac” of Laura Ingalls Wilder events.
With your help, we intend to continue supporting these historic sites and other worthy Wilder-related initiatives across the country.
If you believe in Laura’s legacy, join us in preserving it—
for today and for generations to come.
American Masters Explores the Cultural Legacy and Complicated History of Author Laura Ingalls Wilder in a Documentary on PBS
2020 marked the 85th anniversary of the publication of
“Little House on the Prairie” (1935).
Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page presents an unvarnished look at the unlikely author whose autobiographical fiction helped shape American ideas of the frontier and self-reliance. A Midwestern farm woman who published her first novel at age 65, Laura Ingalls Wilder transformed her frontier childhood into the best-selling “Little House” series. The documentary delves into the legacy of the iconic pioneer as well as the way she transformed her early life into enduring legend, a process that involved a little-known collaboration with her daughter Rose. Directed and produced by Emmy® Award winner Mary McDonagh Murphy (Harper Lee: American Masters), Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page is available nationwide (check local listings), pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS Video app.
