In 1915, Laura Ingalls Wilder traveled by train from her home in Missouri to San Francisco. Laura's westward journey to visit her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, coincided with a spectacular event taking place in that city - the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. It was a great world's fair celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal, and Laura was amazed by the attractions that had been gathered there from all over the world. Her husband, Almanzo, was unable to leave their farm, and it was Laura's daily letters that gave him the chance to see what she saw on her magnificent visit to California. These letters allow the reader to experience Laura's adventures and her intimate thoughts as she shared with her husband the events of her exciting sojourn. It's a fascinating insight into the heart and mind of the author who would later go on to write the classic Little House books.

In 1915, long before her Little House books were written, Laura Ingalls Wilder went to visit her daughter Rose in San Francisco. Her vacation coincided with the massive Pan Pacific International Exposition, of which she wrote in letters sent to her husband. Within her writings we get a glimpse of the time, the place, and the various sights of a thriving city, garnished with her opinions of modern inventions.

I really enjoyed this read.

Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

This fascinating firsthand account of life and travel in the early twentieth century includes 24 pages of photographs.
"It is like a fairyland." So Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the beloved Little House series, described her 1915 voyage to San Francisco to visit her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. Laura's husband, Almanzo, was unable to leave their Missouri farm; her faithful letters home, vividly describing every detail of her journey, have been gathered here.

West From Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder is the final book I've read for the LIW Reading challenge. It was a very nice way to end this month of reading.

The story revolves around Laura's trip to visit her daughter Rose in San Francisco, California (Bay area) and is compiled of the letters she wrote to Manly (Laura's husband) describing her travels and experiences while visiting Rose and her son in law.

With Laura's descriptions of her travels, sight seeing with Rose and her husband as well as all she she experienced and saw ~ she brought her experiences to life!

Prior to reading this book, I had not read much about the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition. I was absolutely astounded to read about all the shows/exhibits as well as life around San Francisco and the Bay area in that era. The exhibits nightly light shows alone must have been breathtaking. What a wonderful lifetime experience!

I found it very interesting how the **new** commercial canning of produce was demonstrated as well as Carnation's process of producing Evaporated Milk. The international booths/exhibits sounded amazing - the sites, sounds smells and tastes. Laura was most definitely captivated by it all.

I enjoyed the pictures included in the book. It was amazing to see 1915 San Francisco and compare it to the city it is today. It's been a long while since I lived in the Bay area but oh, I became so homesick reading this book. It really is a wonderful place to visit and live - back in 1915 and today! ( )