Little Field Trip on the Prairie

For years as we have criss-crossed the midwestern states, I have seen signs along the way advertising this historical site or that one.  While most of them attract the attention briefly, I don’t feel as if I have  to stop and visit each significant place.  However, there is one attraction that we never seemed to have time to visit, and I really, really wanted to see it.  My not-so-secret wish?  To visit the Ingalls Homestead.  As in Laura Ingalls Wilder.  As in my all-time favorite childhood books – the Little House on the Prairie series. 

I finally got my wish!

Here in South Dakota, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Highway winds along through little towns all the way to DeSmet, where Laura and her family spent the Long Winter.  Off in the distance are Lake Henry and Lake Thomas where Almanzo and Laura courted.  The Big Slough is also nearby the homestead.  I had to go see it.

We took a day off school for this momentous and historical trip into the pioneer days.  The original homestead is maintained and managed by local people, and is a delightful place to visit.  They had actually closed for the season on October 31, but when I called, the lady was so very kind and said that since nothing was locked up yet, we were welcome to come out and explore as long as we wished.  That also meant that we didn’t have to pay for an admission ticket, which was an unexpected blessing!

This view of the homestead was taken from the observation tower there, where you can see the whole outlying  property.  Doesn’t it look just like you pictured it?  The Little House is pictured on the left, and the larger building by the windmill is the barn that Pa built later.

This is the famous Little House on the Prairie.  The part with the porch  was the original house, and Pa added an extra room on later, after Mary was at the school for the blind.  When we went in, it was quite small, and reminded me a lot of our trailer!  :)  The girls absolutely loved it!

Here is the kitchen area, with the stove and the cupboards and tin dishes.  You can see the wood box next to the stove.

 

The bed frames were built into the walls, and mattresses were stuffed with hay.  Frankly, they were not very comfortable!

Pa’s hay barn was a marvel of construction.  The roof was made of poles, then covered with dried hay and tied down so that it wouldn’t blow away.  It was quite cozy inside!

 

Along with the original house, they have built several other replicas of prairie life – a shanty and a sod home.  It was very dark in the sod home, or dugout, and smelled very…earthy.  It would have been a true test of character to live in one of those for any length of time.

This is a view of the inside of the dugout.  It was crowded and dark, but quite warm, due to being under the ground.  The stove was in the middle of the only room, and the walls slanted in an uneven way.  It would have been like living in a basement, I guess.  You can see the layers of sod in the walls.  It seemed very sturdy other than the ceiling, which seemed to be coming down in places.

This is a picture of Laura when she was 27.  On the left is a picture of Abigail and Esther sitting in the covered wagon.  It amazes me to think how long it would have taken them to travel from place to place.  If you figure out all the places they lived, they were a traveling family!  I am grateful for the speed and convenience of modern travel!

I know this isn’t “in the area” for most people, but it is charming, a must-see!  It is a very family friendly place, and everything is hands-on for the kids.  In the summer, there are scheduled activities that make the experience even more fun.  I know I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the field trip.  Paul insinuated that I had a better time than the kids, but I really don’t think so…

I can’t wait to go back! :)