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Bridgeport Public Library : Prairie Day!

Bridgeport, WV – The Bridgeport Public Library will celebrate Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 147th birthday with a special “Prairie Day” on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Wilder’s diaries of growing up as an American pioneer inspired the beloved Little House on the Prairie books, television show, and film. Karen Vuranch, a member of History Alive!, will offer her portrayal of Wilder. Gingerbread cookies, made from Wilder’s original recipe, will be available to decorate and enjoy! These activities and more will all be part of “Prairie Day” at the Bridgeport Public Library!

If you have questions about this event, please contact Amy Eakle at 304-842-8248. About Laura Ingalls Wilder In a log cabin near Pepin, Wisconsin, on February 7, 1867 Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born. Her parents were Charles Phillip Ingalls and Caroline Quiner Ingalls. They possessed a pioneering spirit that urged them ever westward, to lands of promise and hope. Yes, Laura wrote about the travels of a pioneer girl, but most importantly she made the journey herself. Laura’s childhood memories served far more than just a colorful backdrop to a young girl’s coming-of-age story. Her vivid accounts paint an accurate picture of life from the 1870s -1890s. Laura truly lived a pioneer life, and through her writings of the Little House books we are better able to understand the lives of common people of her generation, particularly during the time of westward expansion in America. Laura’s stories of her travels take us from the time when she was born in Pepin, Wisconsin, on February 7, 1867 to 1894 when Almanzo, Laura and Rose settled on Rocky Ridge Farm near Mansfield, Missouri. It was there, the last of Laura’s homes, where she wrote in the Little House books about the places she grew up. Source: http://www.lauraingallswilderhome.com/?page_id=17 About History Alive! History Alive! provides a unique passport to the past. The program brings historical characters to life through portrayals by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. Programs are available to nonprofit organizations across West Virginia, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, and civic groups. Beginning January 2014, History Alive! programs are also available to for-profit organizations and businesses wanting to provide an entertaining and educational component for their events. History Alive! allows audiences to explore history through interaction with historical figures. These presentations are not one-person plays. They are intended to engage audiences in a dialogue with the character. History Alive! presenters have conducted thorough research into the characters they portray. They have gained insight into their character after studying primary sources such as autobiographies, journals, letters, speeches and other personal papers. Their presentation is based on scholarship and analysis rather than a script. Source: http://www.wvhumanities.org/alive.htm