DeSmet, South Dakota is a small town located on the prairies east of the Missouri River. It is named after Father Pierre DeSmet, a Belgian Jesuit missionary. But the town is made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Little House on the Prairie series of books and the television show.
I read the books as a child and was absolutely fascinated by all that these pioneers had experienced, and even more so by the fact that some of the books took place in my home state. As an adult, that childhood fascination translated into an intense desire to visit the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder historic homes and the museum takes about an afternoon. It includes a tour of the surveyor’s house, the Brewster School (the first school that Laura taught in), the DeSmet school, and the home of the Ingalls family in town. Seeing the places described in the books was so much fun. I was amazed at how much smaller these buildings were than what my mind’s eye had pictured.
The price of admission is $12 for adults, $6 for youth, and free for children under age 5. I thought the amount of information and entertainment provided was well worth the price of admission.
I recommend reading the books before visiting. But they are available in the gift shop for purchase as well. Another great resource for those wanting to read more about the time is the Discover Laura blog. I recommend checking that out as well!
. I had read it before, but it had been quite some time, and I couldn’t remember many of the details. I wanted to make sure that all of those details were fresh in my mind before the trip.
(called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the UK)
is a wonderful little book and a quick read. The story is told from the perspective of Enzo, a family dog and philosopher. The book is a definite tear-jerker and worth a read. I loved it!
is written about the Iranian hostage crisis. It is told from the perspectives of the hostages, the hostage takers, family members of the hostages, and the Carter administration. It is quite well-researched, but reads like a fast-paced novel. I personally really enjoy nonfiction that is engaging and easy to follow. This book is exactly that.