Experience Laura Ingalls Wilder in South Dakota

If you’ve read any of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House on the Prairie" books or watched the long-running syndicated television show, your imagination has already gone on adventures with Ma, Pa and the rest of the Ingalls family. But even those who have never turned a page of her books are likely to fall for the charm and history of the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet. Experience a one-room school lesson, make your own corncob doll and take a covered wagon ride across the prairie to immerse yourself in a world made famous by some of the most celebrated books of all time.

Let a bus take you through the history of the Wilder family and the open prairie of De Smet. At the Wilder Welcome Center, folks are happy to answer any questions you might have about the Wilders’ legacy. There’s also a gift shop with unique art and gifts made by local, Laura-loving artisans. The Wilder Welcome Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week in the summer. In September, the bus tour is offered most days at 1 p.m. and takes between 90 minutes and two hours. Private tours are available by appointment. For groups of seven or more, these tours can be customized and generally take about three hours.

For the ultimate "Little House on the Prairie" experience, hit De Smet during the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. Held during the middle of each summer, the pageant features more than 100 volunteers combining talents to perform a family-friendly drama based on Wilder’s writings.

Many buildings along Calumet Avenue are part of Laura’s history. The most notable might be the Loftus Store, the only remaining building directly featured in Wilder’s books. The Depot Museum and Harvey Dunn School are open Monday through Friday in June, July and August.