Almanzo Wilder Homestead

See the restored homestead of local son immortalized in a classic novel 

If it wasn’t for his wife, Almanzo Wilder’s name would have faded years ago. But Wilder’s wife was Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose “Little House” novels remain a childhood staple generations after they were written. Almanzo was a recurring character in those books; “Farmer Boy,” the second in the series, captured his childhood on this farm outside Malone. It wasn’t easy: he rose early every day to tend to cattle, raise crops, chop wood and cut ice. The farmhouse in which Almanzo Wilder grew up is still here and was restored in the 1980s. It’s the only building original to the 84-acre site, which contains reconstructed barns and outbuildings as well as a museum and store. 

At a glance
  • Almanzo, who was born in 1857, lived here until 1875, when his family moved to Minnesota.
  • Museum features antique tools in use from the era of the Wilder farm.
  • Admission includes a 60-90 minute guided tour; last tour starts at 3 p.m.