Last year I posted a list of suggestions for Christmas gifts for the Laura Ingalls fan just beginning their Laura collection. I think they are still excellent suggestions if your Laura fan still needs any of them, but we’re looking at some more unique things this year. Here at Beyond Little House we believe in shopping from the homesites. If you want them to stay open, show your support by shopping there. Below are their cut off dates for ordering for Christmas. These museums are dedicated to Laura get no regular backing from her estate and rely on admissions, donations, and gift shop sales to stay open for us to visit and preserve Laura’s legacy.
Probably the most unusual thing new this year is the replica of Laura Ingalls Wilder engagement ring from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. (scroll down linked page) I think it is probably out of better material than Laura’s original that was ordered out of the Montgomery Ward catalog. On that same page find plenty of Laura jewelery and, if you have your own Jack, I highly recommend Jack’s Puppy Treats (my dog Blue pops them like candy). I also saw a couple of ornaments I want for my Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas Tree. They’ve even put out a special online newsletter about what they are selling this year. They are also proud of their cloth dolls and flannel child sized PJs which are locally made.
Although the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Spring Valley, Minnesota is a smaller site they always have interesting and unusual pieces. This year they’ve introduced a glass ornament of their site. They sell one of my favorite Laura dolls, a cloth Almanzo doll. They also have 3 specially designed Playing Laura dresses for 18 inch fashion dolls.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa is also a smaller site with unique items. For stocking stuffers, they have laminated wooden bookmarks featuring a Burr Oak tree (I love mine) and slates and slate pencils.
The Ingalls Homestead of De Smet, South Dakota is offering free standard shipping on purchases over $50. They were surprised by how well Basic Country Skills, a new book they’ve stocked, is selling. It’s a how-to of pioneer skills. Another big seller is the hardcover set of Laura’s books in a wooden crate. They’ve introduced high quality tin cups produced by Jacob Bromwell which has been making tin cups since the 1830s, still handmade in the United States. Also, along with several of the other sites they are selling the Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura DVD which is a great companion for both a trip to Malone and the book Farmer Boy. It is of course also available from Malone.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum of Mansfield, Missouri has put together a special page of Christmas related items in their giftshop, including their awesome laser-cut ornaments of the Sewell cover illustrations, plus Rocky Ridge. They also are still promoting their DVD Laura Ingalls Wilder: Stories of Pioneer Girl. It won’t let me link to sections within the giftshop. The DVD is under Collectibles and Gifts and the Christmas stuff is under Christmas.
The following Laura Ingalls Wilder sites are still open and allowing you to order for Christmas. I’m listing the cut off date for Christmas orders to reach you before Christmas as given to me by the homesites. The Walnut Grove museum is especially counting on mail orders this year because they normally get walk in traffic at the gift shop all winter, but they have construction going on right now so they are mail-order only this year.
Walnut Grove MN
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
Phone 1-800-528-7280
Last Day for Priority Mail – December 16th
De Smet SD
Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Click on Gift Shop
Phone 1-800-880-3383
Last Day for Priority Mail – December 16th
Ingalls Homestead
Phone: 1-800-776-3594
Last Day for Priority Mail – December 21st (16th for regular mail), call if questions
Mansfield MO
Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum
Phone 1-877-924-7126 (Toll free)
Last Day for Priority Mail – Sometime between December 12th and the 16th
Malone NY
Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Farm
Phone (518) 483-1207
Last Day for Priority Mail – December 14th
Malone also says for their set up, online ordering has a quicker response.
Spring Valley MN
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum (Store not online)
Phone (507) 346-7659
Last Day for Priority – December 10th
Burr Oak IA
Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum
Phone (563) 735-5916
Last Day for Priority – Not giving a last day, it’s up to the customer
And Don’t forget you can also get your Laura fan memories of Laurapalooza 2010 and gift memberships.
Sarah S. Uthoff blogs at TrundleBed Tales; look for her on Twitter and YouTube.