De Smet S.D and the Prairie

Recently we stayed in the in De Smet, South Dakota. This was our base while attending the Red Power Round Up in nearby Huron. We found the town of De Smet to be historic, and beautiful. It was also the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote the books that the television show Little House on the Prairie was devised from.

Besides the unique history of the area, to me, one fascinating aspect of this area was the landscape. Known as an outdoor and wildlife haven, we were fascinated by the potlakes and sloughs that make up this part of the prairie. We enjoyed seeing the potlakes that serve as a draw for bird life and we witnessed some cattle enjoying both a drink and a soak.

They introduced pheasants to the area and now they abound. In Huron there is even the world’s largest pheasant.

Located on Highway 14, it stands 28′ tall and weighs 22 tons. It serves as a reminder that the area is a premier hunting area and has been since 1959. On their website, they share a tale of a legend of a huge pheasant back in the 1880’s that left footprints that formed creeks and river valleys in the spring. Some settlers swore the winds were caused by the giant pheasant running across the grassland! The story continues, I won’t ruin it, check it out!

Historic Lodging!

The Heritage House Bed & Breakfast is an inn in a beautifully restored 1880 bank. It was a delight, great breakfast, nice owners Kim and Carl Ernst. Kim is a local that grew up in this charming berg. On their website they share a bit of the history of the bed and breakfast that is filled with antiques and a lobby with the original tin ceiling.”This handsome two-story building would come to house the Waters Land and Loan Co., the Abstract Company, and a year later the Germania State Bank. This building had the historical importance of being a place where the pioneers would come to stake their claims. Some even say that the Ingalls banked here. Over one hundred years would go by before it would become the beautiful bed and breakfast is today.”

The B&B was the perfect location for the Red Power Show, and best of all it both lovely and affordable.

While in DeSmet, we also enjoyed dining at the Half Pint Steak & Spirits .

I am making assumptions that the name came about because that was Laura Ingalls nickname.

Art in DeSmet

Across the street from our B&B was a cool mural that I talked Keith into posing in front of. That is just a small part of the art.

Up and down the scenic main street is an 11-piece rotating sculpture trail. The artwork is part of the SculptureOne Partner Network. Besides the sculptures, many buildings have historic plaques that share the Laura Ingalls Wilder’s past. Buildings have the history of what it was when she lived there.

While we admired many sculptures, my favorite was the American Bison created by artist Don Gaber of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This cool piece of art was made from scrap metal and cast-off items many related to ag like tools, chains and more. A more detailed story about this will be in an upcoming issue of Farm Show.

Laura Ingall Wilder

It was fun to learn the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She brings attention to De Smet with her Little House books. They tell the story of their town on the Prairie. Five of her nine books are set in DeSmet. The Ingalls family settled in DeSmet in 1879. Laura married Almazo Wilder. They with their daughter Rose moved to Missouri in 1894. The rest of the Ingalls family stayed behind.

In DeSmet, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society shares information about her pioneer heritage. We did a walk through because time was short.

You can take tours of the original homes and schools of the Ingalls family. There is a Discovery Center. Just a short way out of town is the Ingalls Homestead.

The Homestead

The homestead is located on a quarter section of land. Ann Sullivan, her husband and her parents Tim and Joan Sullivan run this family owned business.

Ann took time to share a bit. Charles filed on it in February of 1880. Laura lived here till she got married in 1895. This was where their farm was and it is an interactive farm and museum. They offer covered wagon rides, demonstrations, they make corn cob dolls and more. Family run business. parents Tim and Joan Sullivan. Running it since the 1990’s.

Ann shared about the wildlife, the potlakes and sloughs that were such a big part of her books. She put the most important aspect of Laura’s books sharing that she doesn’t know of any other book that shares the history of settling a town. “She worked with her daughter Rose who worked as her editor.”

Go for the history, for the story, and for the land. Discover Laura Ingall’s Wilder’s prairie.