On February 13, 1857, Almanzo James Wilder was born in Burke, New York. Almanzo had a happy childhood growing up on the family farm. Later, he met and married Laura Ingalls and they eventually settled in Mansfield, Missouri, where she would write the Little House series of books, including Farmer Boy, which describes a year in Almanzo's life on the Burke homestead.

Today, the homestead is open to the public. Come visit and get an idea of what life was like on a rural farm family in 1870. Tour the homestead museum, house, and barns, as well as a traditional 1800s one-room schoolhouse.

Open for the season: Memorial Weekend through October. Summer hours: Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Tours at 10AM, 12PM, and 2:00PM or by appointment.  Hours change in September. Please check the website for updates.

General admission includes a guided tour of the restored farmhouse, reconstructed barns, and museum. The Visitor Center with museum and gift shop is open to the public at no charge.

Tours for active duty military personnel with I.D. are free. Tours for military families with a military I.D. receive a 50% discount.

General tours take 60-90 minutes. Large groups are asked to call in advance.

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Annual events — check our website for more info:

July: Children's Art Extravaganza

August: Cultural Festival: Each season we celebrate a culture that influenced life in Northern New York in the mid 19th century.

September: Harvest Festival and Civil War Living History Encampment

December: Christmas with Almanzo