Visiting the Ingalls Homestead – De Smet, SD

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Our year spent reading through ‘The Little House’ series was magical. Aliza instantly fell head over heels for these books and seeing her in her pioneer costume became more frequent than not. Pierce also really enjoyed the books, finding the adventures exciting, their lifestyle fascinating, especially enjoying the funny scenes. Reading these books is what made us want to visit South Dakota in the first place. To see for ourselves if the sky is bigger (it is), and if life just feels more peaceful (it does).

Our visit to The Ingalls Homestead was just one of the most perfect days. We arrived in the morning, going straight to the visitor center to pay and check in for our lodging that night. As the lady took our information, she pointed to the rules on the wall and asked that we read them. It was then I started to realize this was going to be totally different than I expected. We wouldn’t be taken on a guided tour, politely standing and listening while a tour guide presented artifacts and stories, watching that the children don’t touch anything they shouldn’t… this was going to be quite the opposite. The first rule was “Children are allowed to touch and climb on anything they choose.”

This was the actual land that Laura and her family lived on in South Dakota, the homestead Pa waited in line to claim. It’s the same slough she played in, the same fields he planted. But the buildings (and pretty much everything in them) are simply replicas built to be as much like the historical data and Laura’s descriptions as possible. When we first found this out, I have to admit I had a moment of disappointment. But, my goodness, how my tune changed. We didn’t walk through the grounds like a library to be revered and respected – they spent the day playing, running, petting kittens and foals, driving covered wagons, ringing the school bell, watering the garden, washing their clothes, playing the organ… it was a day spent imagining and playing. A joyful and wonderful day, this homestead is used exactly how Laura would have wanted it to be.

There are several buildings on the property – a small museum with a covered wagon inside and facts about the books; a small barn with chickens, kittens, and a calf (which the kids got to feed!); a small garden and pump that you can use to water the plants; a furnished replica of ‘Ma’s House,’ where you can iron, sew, and lay on the beds; a large barn with more museum pieces and horses; an old church where you can play the organ and explore; and a school house, where the kids can put on aprons, write on the chalk boards, and read the books.

Ma’s House and the schoolhouse have actors inside to give you some history and a brief tour. The large barn has some workers inside who help the kids make a few different crafts – mine wove their own rope and made corn cob dolls. And there is a wagon ride to the church and school house with a guide who teaches the kids to drive the wagon and shares a bit of info as you go along. You do everything at your own pace, so there is no need to rush or wait in any lines. The tours simply start when you show up. And if you missed the wagon ride, you pet the foal (who is running free), while you wait.

We did take a short break in the afternoon to journey to the small town of De Smet and visit Ma and Pa’s house in town. It’s only a few minutes drive from the homestead. It was a great tour, our tour guide was so knowledgeable and good with the kids. This home though was one where you didn’t touch – what was in the house was actually theirs! The bed Pa died in, Mary’s braille Bible, Ma’s china dishes… it was so interesting and lovely. A good balance to the homestead.

You can also take a short drive out to the Wilder Homestead, where Almanzo and Laura settled. There are no buildings standing, but there is a marker. And you can just imagine what it would have been like.

It was a slow, glorious day. But the best part happened at closing time.

When the day is done the tourist leave and the staff go home, the only people remaining are the families staying the night. There are a couple of cabins, a handful of covered wagons, and a few camper spaces. So, even when it is full, this is not a lot of people on a huge spread out homestead. We got moved into our covered wagon – which was so much more spacious than it sounds. It was simple – a broom, a fan, some mattresses – but it was so fun! We ate a picnic outside our wagon and then asked the kids what they wanted to do. Because, here’s the thing, we can still have access to everything! So we went and lay in the barn for a while with the kittens, fed the calf his evening bottle when the farmer came by for her evening rounds, played and chatted with the few families that were sharing this experience with us, took a walk out to the school house at sunset, washed many loads of laundry, and ironed by candlelight in Ma’s house.