James and Angeline Wilder were married in 1843 and settled on a farm near Malone, New York. One of their children, Almanzo, grew up to marry Laura Ingalls. She wrote a book about his childhood as a Farmer Boy.
What can you see and do in New York?
The Wilder home is the only Little House structure still standing on its original site. It has been restored to look as it would have when the Wilder family lived there. Some of the household artifacts were found on the site during archeological digs. Many others were donated by area families. During restoration, a black mark was found on the parlor wall, believed to be the result of Almanzo’s blacking brush accident, as described in Farmer Boy.
In addition to the home, you can see reconstructed barns, a pump house, a henhouse, and a one-room schoolhouse. A museum on site houses a collection of period artifacts, farm tools, and Wilder family photos.
Genesee Country Village & Museum - Mumford, NY
This site does not have a direct connection to the Ingalls and Wilder families, but as the largest living history museum in New York, it allows visitors to experience what life was like during the 19th century. It also hosts a Laura Ingalls Wilder Days celebration every summer.
Cuba Historical Society - Cuba, NY
Charles Ingalls ("Pa") was born near Cuba in 1836. His family moved away when he was a boy, though other Ingalls relatives stayed in the area. The Cuba Historical Society has a small display and an historical marker.
