Laura Ingalls Wilder Trip June 24, 2011 De Smet, South Dakota

On the Banks of Plum Creek site
 (as far as we could go due to flooding)

Replica of the Home on the Ingall's Homestead outside of De Smet

We journeyed to the schoolhouse in a wagon pulled by
Skip and Barnum.

Schoolhouse

Marker at the corner of Ingall's Homestead

Pa's cottonwoods (five remain from 70+ originally planted) 

The Ingall's Home in town De Smet, South Dakota

June 24, 2011 

Just a note from yesterday - the 23rd.  Due to flooding, we were unable to drive out to see the home dug out in the bans of Plum Creek (“On the Banks of Plum Creek”).  We were able drive out to where the road ended. We were in good company, with many other disappointed travelers.  We just saw the vast open deep green prairie but could not get close to the site.

 On Friday, June 24th, we traveled to DeSmet, South Dakoka, the heart of the Ingalls’s family and inspiration for “Little Town on the Prairie”.  It was a short drive from Brookings to DeSmet where Pa filed his papers for his free claim (160 acres in exchange for living on the property for  a period of time).  Deb had visited this area years ago and it was more “touristy” than she remembered.  Our first stop was to the 160 acre claim, the Ingall’s Homestead. This was a self-guided tour to visit various sites and replica buildings First, we went up a three story look-out structure to get an overview of the site. We walked up and down the gentle hills and visited the sod house, sod barn, and a replica of a tiny claim shanty that would be built hurriedly to advertise to others that you had rights to the land. It’s pretty amazing a family could live in such small quarters. At the barn, in a covered wagon led by Skip and Barnum, we traveled a short distance to school, where a teacher had the kids wear period clothing and recite lessons as she related stories about what school would have been like.   We enjoyed talking to the locals that make these areas come to life. 

In DeSmet, we had lunch at Ward’s and had delicious pulled pork sandwiches.  The restaurant was inside an antique/ gift store. On one shelf, we saw sewing items, belts, paper towels, and electronics. We ended splitting a delicious slice of rhubarb cream pie and cherry strudel.

We walked to the Loftus Store and the store owner gave us an informal history lesson.  We walked to the Surveyor’s House and purchased the tour with the museum.  The Surveyor’s Home was where they spent a winter on the prairie (by themselves) before more settlers came. This included a tour of the Ingall”s Home (1887-1928) in town. Pa was a remarkable carpenter and the house in town had the original siding. Pa died here in 1902. Ma lived here in town until she died in 1928.

Weather today was windy, but the rain was holding off,and the sun was winning during our tour. 

We went by the Congregational Church where Pa had donated $3 for the bell instead of buying shoes for himself.

We ended the day walking the DeSmet cemetery, where Carrie, Mary, “Ma” and “Pa” and the infant son of Laura is buried.  Also, the resting place of the Boast and Loftus families.  What a wonderful day!