Laura Ingalls Wilder, c. 1930s. Photo: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls is born in “the little house in the Big Woods” outside of Pepin, Wisconsin.
The Ingalls family moves to Kansas (described in Wilder’s book, "Little House on the Prairie").
The Ingalls family returns to Pepin, Wisconsin.
The Ingalls family moves to Walnut Grove, MN (described in Wilder’s book, "On the Banks of Plum Creek").
The Ingalls family moves to Burr Oak, Iowa.
The Ingalls family returns to Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
The Ingalls family moves west to unsettled country in Dakota Territory (described in Wilder’s book, "By the Shores of Silver Lake").
Settlers build the town of De Smet on the prairie in Kingsbury County, Dakota Territory.
The “hard winter” almost wipes out the town of De Smet (described in Wilder’s book, "The Long Winter").
Wilder begins teaching at the Bouchie school (called “the Brewster school” in her book, "These Happy Golden Years"), and is courted by Almanzo Wilder.
Laura marries Almanzo Wilder in De Smet.
Laura and Almanzo’s daughter Rose is born (described in Wilder’s posthumously published book, "The First Four Years").
Laura and Almanzo’s son is born and dies in De Smet.
The Wilders briefly move to Florida, before returning to De Smet.
The Wilders move to Mansfield, Missouri and purchase the land that becomes Rocky Ridge farm.
Wilder begins writing for "Missouri Ruralist."
Wilder’s story, “My Ozark Kitchen,” is published in "Country Gentleman" magazine.
Rose builds her parents the modern “Rock House” on a corner of the farm in Mansfield.
Wilder completes a draft of her memoir, "Pioneer Girl."
"Little House in the Big Woods" is published.
"Farmer Boy" is published.
"Little House on the Prairie" is published.
Laura and Almanzo leave the Rock House and move back into their original farmhouse.
"On the Banks of Plum Creek" is published.
"By the Shores of Silver Lake" is published.
"The Long Winter" is published.
"Little Town on the Prairie" is published.
"These Happy Golden Years" is published.
Almanzo Wilder dies in Mansfield, Missouri.
The “uniform edition” of the “Little House” books, with new illustrations by Garth Williams, is published.
The American Library Association created the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for “lasting and significant contributions to children’s literature.” Wilder is the first recipient.
Laura Ingalls Wilder dies in Mansfield, Missouri.
"On the Way Home," Wilder’s diary of the trip from De Smet to Mansfield, is published.
"The First Four Years" is published.
"West from Home," a book of letters from Wilder to Almanzo sent during her 1915 trip to San Francisco, is published.
"Little House on the Prairie," the television series, airs on NBC.
"Little House on the Prairie," the miniseries, is broadcast on ABC.
"Little House on the Prairie: The Musical" premieres at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis and later tours the country.
"Pioneer Girl," Wilder’s original memoir, is published for the first time.
The American Library Association renames the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award as “The Children’s Literature Legacy Award,” citing concerns about Wilder’s depictions of Native Americans and Black people.
Caroline Fraser’s biography of Wilder, "Prairie Fires," wins the Pulitzer Prize.
