Thursday, July 14, 2016

Ingalls Homestead



Our next stop was De Smet, SD. We read By the Shores of Silver Lake in anticipation of coming to the Ingalls territory! And it was perfect timing to see the Surveyor's House and surrounding buildings after just re-reading the book. I had been there as a child {and Mt. Rushmore too} but it was super fun to come along with my own children and see the things that had changed.

Since we arrived in the afternoon, we did the official Little House tour first. There was also a driving map that guided visitors around the area to see things like the Big Slough and their homestead site with cottonwood trees they had planted.

It was fun to try and grind wheat with a coffee grinder {harder than it sounds!} and imagine days gone by and all the stories we've grown to love through Laura Ingalls Wilder and her writing.

It was also neat to travel a few miles to the homestead site and see the cottonwood trees Pa planted, feel the wind through the prairie and imagine life on the claim. As fun as this was, the next day was even more fun as we experienced Laura's Living Prairie where absolutely everything was hands on! 
























4 comments:

Wendi said...

I have been waiting for this post since I saw on Instagram that you had been. How fun!

Tina Leigh said...

So there are two schools? The blue one looks like what you would imagine but not the other. And the trees by the little path are the cottonwoods? It's really hard to believe that the books we've read (I love the tv series but the books are more real) about her life and home are still standing! Like stepping back in time. I wonder what Laura and even her parents would say about all of this now? So inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

PS
I would totally live in that beautiful house today! Pa did good!

Mary Ann said...

Oh how fun! Would love to go there again!

Kelli said...

What a fun day!