How Laura traveled

I've mentioned this before, but it's so remarkable that I'll mention it again: 

The world changed drastically during Laura Ingalls Wilder's lifetime. 

Laura was born in 1867. When she was a girl, the Ingalls family traveled by covered wagon for long distances, such as the move from the Big Woods of Wisconsin to Indian Territory in Kansas. If they were going only a short distance, less than several miles, they would walk. (The exception was a trip to town when they purchased lots of packages, too many to carry.)

Garth Williams's illustration of the Ingalls family covered wagon

After Laura and Almanzo were married, they moved from South Dakota to Missouri with little Rose in their wagon. By that summer of 1894, automobiles had been invented, but very few people owned one. 

In 1908, the Model T Ford became the first widely affordable automobile. However, it wasn't until later that Laura and Almanzo owned their first car. 

By the early 1920s, Laura and Almanzo's daughter Rose was a successful writer and she bought her parents a Buick with part of her earnings. They named the car Isabelle and took it on many road trips, including a trip to California and one to their old home of South Dakota. 

A blue 1923 Buick like the one Rose gave her parents

 Later on, Almanzo bought a new Chrysler that also served the Wilders well. When World War II came, gasoline was rationed, so long trips were impossible. However, they used it to get around if they needed to leave Rocky Ridge Farm. Clearly, transportation had come a long way since Laura's youth!

1937 Chrysler like Almanzo's

 I hope you found this post informative and exciting. Have I convinced you that history is both important and cool? Because that's the point of LHCO - to present a fresh view of Laura Ingalls Wilder's life and times. Come back often for more Little House-inspired fun!
Elizabeth