2020 CARAVAN TOUR - FOLLOWING THE WILDERS' 1894 ROUTE
A caravan tour is a group of vehicles traveling together. Little House Site Tours plans the route and lodging. This tour is very popular.
Therefore, we are requiring a minimum of two people in every vehicle. We want to accommodate as many people as possible. We do not like to have more than six vehicles behind us on a caravan tour. Each tour includes five nights of lodging.
Part 1 - Begins mid-morning on Tuesday, August 4, in the Kingsbury County area, South Dakota;
Ends Sunday noon, August 9, in Marysville, Kansas.
Heritage Hall Museum & Arboretum
Freeman, South Dakota
Laura mentions seeing Russians on the trails and in settlements. This museum has artifacts from that era. The arboretum has 40 acres with three ponds and an amphitheater.
Missouri River, Yankton, SD
The Wilders crossed here during their journey.
Capitol
Building,
Lincoln, Nebraska;
Laura said it was a
"grand
building."
This building was completed in 1932 and has an interesting tour.
South of Schuyler, NE; Laura said, "This river is full of sand bars that keep shifting."
Gage County
Courthouse
Beatrice, NE
Completed in 1892
Laura describes it as "handsome."
Welcome Center Tour
De Smet, SD - seeing many
"Laura related" places.
Ingalls Home, De Smet, SD
Built by "Pa." This is a wonderful tour!
Koester House, Marysville, Kansas - Laura mentions that "On each side of the front gate a large granite lion is crouching."
We will enjoy a tour of this home.
Visiting Cap Garland's gravesite, Willow Lake, SD
Ingalls Homestead, De Smet. SD
Pioneer activities & wagon ride
Pictures at Spirit Lake -
mentioned by Laura in her books
Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, NE
Homesteading was important during the Wilder era. Our visit here tells a lot about homesteading.
Here are a few of the places we visit on Part 1.
Charles Koester House, Parts 1 and 2
Part 2 - Begins at noon on Sunday, August 9, in Marysville, KS; ends August 13 with overnight stay near Mansfield, MO.
Departure on August 14.
Here are a few of the places we visit on Part 2.
Rocky Ridge Farm
Mansfield, Missouri
Home built by the Wilders.
Rock House, Mansfield, MO
Laura & Almanzo were given this Christmas gift from their daughter, Rose, in 1928.
Trolley Tour, Fort Scott, KS
"Seeing Fort Scott through Laura's Eyes"
Scott Springs, KS
Oregon Trail Park was a stopping place on the Oregon Trail.
Mansfield Historical Society
will be moving to the new depot museum this summer.
LIW & RWL Museum
Mansfield, Missouri
Laura described Lamar, MO as "the nicest small town we have seen."
Fort Scott
National Monument
St. Marys, KS
Laura mentions a white marble statue.
Topeka, KS
Laura
described the
Capitol as
"handsome."
Old Prairie Town
Topeka, KS
Franklin County Courthouse
Ottawa, KS - Laura said it
was "an inspiring building."
Dietrich Cabin
Ottawa, Kansas
Built in 1859
Town
Square
Springfield
Missouri
Laura mentions seeing many businesses in the Square.
