Historical Facts on the Prairie

[Madame X]

It has long been known that LHOP took liberties when dealing with historical facts. Here are some examples that I find interesting:

#37 (season 2) "The Talking Machine" - invented in 1877 (Laura would be 10)

#91 (season 5) "As Long as We're Together" - Braille writer invented in 1892 (Laura would be 25)

#108 (season 5) "Lake Kezia Monster" - Uncle Remus book published in 1880 (Laura would be 13 and Carrie 10 when Caroline read it)

#128 (season 6) "Crossed Connections" - First telephone line between New York and Boston in 1883 (I doubt if Walnut Grove was on the list of priority areas to connect to)

#131 (season 6) "What Ever Happened to the Class of '56?" - That would make the year 1881!

[catlover79]

Not to mention it was so warm in Minnesota 95% of the time - with MOUNTAINS!!

[Mikado]

Hollywood is well-known for historical innacuracies....just take your average "Western", there's about as much "historical fact" in a typical western as there is lean beef in a Big Mac!
The Buddy Holly story with Gary Busey was so full of BS that no one in the Holley family, or the original Crickets wanted to participate in ANY way (Which is why they gave the Crickets fictional names in the film! Later, the Crickets and Holley family came out with a video called "The Real Buddy Holly
Story" just to deal with all the film's innacuracies.)
If you want history, watch a documentary or read a non-fiction book, you wont get any from Hollywood!

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Not to mention it was so warm in Minnesota 95% of the time - with MOUNTAINS!!

Ah, gotta love Simi Valley for that. That is where the filming took place. I can't help but as I watch LHOTP, I see the mountains that I recognize, the hills, and the fabulous weather. Simi Valley is abt a 25 min. drive from where I live. Believe me, WE ARE NOT MINNESOTA! Simi Valley is where the Ronald Reagan Library is located.

Here is some more information for you all to read, and by the way, thanx Stacy for all that great information. I have always wondered abt the accuracy (or rather, inaccuracies of LHOTP):

As with most TV series set in a distant time or place, the series includes occasional historical inaccuracies. Little House on the Prairie was largely filmed on Big Sky Ranch at Simi Valley, California. Camera vistas sometimes pick up the rugged terrain, far too mountainous for Minnesota, and the Californian chaparral vegetation. In one particular episode Laura runs away and climbs up a mountain. However, there are no mountains on the prairie. Nevertheless, in most scenes the oak savanna is considered to be representative of the real Walnut Grove. Dr. Baker's telephone seems far ahead of its time, since the telephone was newly invented and existed only in large cities in the 1880s.


Here is link with some photos and info:

http://www.laphotos.com/simi_valley.html

[Madame X]

Simi Valley seems like a great place to live. You are fortunate, even if your city is called Oxnard!

[Bodie]

I live within blocks of where this was filmed. I need to drive down the road and go exploring! = ) Sad to think that there is no longer any part of the set left : (
As far as accuracy, I remember one episode where Laura and Mary are sitting at the table and one of them mentions an airplane! Haha
And as far as Oxnard - a very nice place to live indeed...open fields and lots of beach houses, plus some of the most yummy Mexican food around!