Burr Oak Featured as a Must-Visit Literary Destination

Burr Oak Featured as a Must-Visit Literary Destination

Posted: March 9, 2026

A woman speaks to a small group outside a building, checking her watch near a glass door.

Fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the beloved Little House books already know that Burr Oak holds a special place in American literary history. Recently, the website Only In Your State highlighted our community in an article celebrating must-visit literary destinations across Iowa.

According to the article, Burr Oak is one of the state’s most meaningful stops for readers because it preserves an important chapter of Laura’s childhood. The Ingalls family lived here in 1876 while working at the Masters Hotel, and the building still stands today as the centerpiece of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum.

What makes Burr Oak especially unique is that the Masters Hotel is the only childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder still standing on its original site. Through guided tours and exhibits, visitors can step inside the historic building where Laura and her family lived and worked during a formative year of her life.

The article also highlights how this small northeast Iowa community has become a destination for readers and history lovers. Travelers from across the country—and even around the world—come to Burr Oak to explore the museum, learn about Laura’s “missing year,” and experience the landscape that shaped part of her early life.

Beyond the museum, the village offers glimpses of the past that help visitors imagine Laura’s world. The quiet streets, historic buildings, and surrounding countryside provide a setting that feels much like stepping back into the late 19th century.

We invite you to read the full article and discover why Burr Oak is being recognized as a literary pilgrimage site for Laura Ingalls Wilder fans.

And if you haven’t yet visited Burr Oak, we hope you’ll plan a trip to experience the story firsthand. From the historic Masters Hotel to our museum grounds and annual events like Laura Days, there are many ways to connect with Laura’s Iowa story.

Read the article: This Tiny Iowa Town Is A Must-Visit Literary Destination

    Recent Posts

    Meet the 2026-2027 Little Miss Lauras

    Posted July 7, 2026 in Little Miss Laura

    TCUP Foundation Grant

    Posted April 8, 2026 in Fundraisers & Supporters

    “Nellie Oleson” Coming to Burr Oak for Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

    Posted March 12, 2026 in Events & Celebrations, In the Media, Laura Days

    The Pot Hollow School Story: Preserving a Schoolhouse

    Posted January 22, 2026 in Educational Programs, Fundraisers & Supporters

    Member Benefit: Online Discounts Starting in 2026

    Posted January 12, 2026 in Museum Updates

    Categories

     In the Media 

    Share

    You May Also Like…

    Two girls in pioneer costumes sit in a covered wagon outside a white building on a sunny day.

    Meet the 2026-2027 Little Miss Lauras

    Congratulations to Tianna Yoder of Decorah, Iowa, and Amirya Barys of DeWitt, Iowa, in earning the title of Little Miss …

    Posted July 7, 2026 in Little Miss Laura
    Illustration of a farmhouse with text: Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Burr Oak, Iowa.

    TCUP Foundation Grant

    TCUP FOUNDATION GRANT (Telephone Cooperative Unclaimed Property) The museum received a $2,000 grant from the TCUP Foundation. The grant will …

    Posted April 8, 2026 in Fundraisers & Supporters
    Smiling woman in a zebra-print jacket holds and points to a black-and-white photo of another woman.

    “Nellie Oleson” Coming to Burr Oak for Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

    Special Event Announcement: Don’t miss a live Q&A with Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie) during …

    Posted March 12, 2026 in Events & Celebrations, In the Media, Laura Days