Sioux Empire Adventure - De Smet, SD
By Tarah Jahnig
History is very much alive for the nearly 1,200 residents of De Smet, S.D. In a town where covered wagon rides and original 1800s storefronts mix with contemporary homes and restaurants, the "Little Town on the Prairie" pays tribute to its past famous residents.
Located in Kingsbury County, De Smet was named for Father Peter John De Smet, a Jesuit missionary who spent his life working with Native Americans. A statue of Father De Smet stands in Washington Park, alongside a modern playground, picnic areas, campsites, a volleyball court and horseshoe pits.
De Smet is the famous hometown of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. Four of her "Little House" books were written about her time living on her family's homestead one mile outside De Smet. Today various landmarks from the books have been preserved and moved into De Smet, including the Surveyor's Home where the Ingalls family lived during their first South Dakota winter. It is the oldest building in De Smet.
Other Ingalls landmarks open to tourists include the Ingalls' home, the First Congregational Church, the first school, the cemetery where Charles, Caroline, Mary, Carrie and Grace Ingalls are buried, and a memorial on the original Ingalls homestead. The Ingalls homestead offers various family activities, including wagon rides, a historic school session, a prairie exhibit and other pioneering activities.
In July visitors can also take in the historic Little Town on the Prairie pageant, which is based on the story of the Ingalls family. First directed by a De Smet English teacher in 1972, the pageant has evolved into a must-see production for Laura Ingalls Wilder fans.
De Smet's other famous historical landmarks include the Depot Museum and the Harvey Dunn School. The museum, located in the original railroad depot, features exhibits on De Smet's early history and South Dakota wildlife. Located adjacent from the museum is the schoolhouse prairie artist Harvey Dunn attended while growing up near De Smet. Several of Dunn's paintings hang in the city's library.
De Smet also provides access to various outdoor activities, including hunting, snowmobiling, camping and year-round fishing. Lake Thompson, South Dakota's largest natural lake, is located just five miles east of town. J&R Pheasant Hunts, a family owned and operated hunting business a short distance from De Smet, can help organize a trip for pheasant hunting lovers.
Keeping with residents' desire to preserve history and tradition, De Smet celebrated its 125th anniversary from June 6-12, 2005. Governor Mike Rounds issued an executive proclamation, and residents celebrated throughout the week with a parade, an all-school reunion and a giant birthday cake.
By Tarah Jahnig
History is very much alive for the nearly 1,200 residents of De Smet, S.D. In a town where covered wagon rides and original 1800s storefronts mix with contemporary homes and restaurants, the "Little Town on the Prairie" pays tribute to its past famous residents.
Located in Kingsbury County, De Smet was named for Father Peter John De Smet, a Jesuit missionary who spent his life working with Native Americans. A statue of Father De Smet stands in Washington Park, alongside a modern playground, picnic areas, campsites, a volleyball court and horseshoe pits.
De Smet is the famous hometown of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. Four of her "Little House" books were written about her time living on her family's homestead one mile outside De Smet. Today various landmarks from the books have been preserved and moved into De Smet, including the Surveyor's Home where the Ingalls family lived during their first South Dakota winter. It is the oldest building in De Smet.
Other Ingalls landmarks open to tourists include the Ingalls' home, the First Congregational Church, the first school, the cemetery where Charles, Caroline, Mary, Carrie and Grace Ingalls are buried, and a memorial on the original Ingalls homestead. The Ingalls homestead offers various family activities, including wagon rides, a historic school session, a prairie exhibit and other pioneering activities.
In July visitors can also take in the historic Little Town on the Prairie pageant, which is based on the story of the Ingalls family. First directed by a De Smet English teacher in 1972, the pageant has evolved into a must-see production for Laura Ingalls Wilder fans.
De Smet's other famous historical landmarks include the Depot Museum and the Harvey Dunn School. The museum, located in the original railroad depot, features exhibits on De Smet's early history and South Dakota wildlife. Located adjacent from the museum is the schoolhouse prairie artist Harvey Dunn attended while growing up near De Smet. Several of Dunn's paintings hang in the city's library.
De Smet also provides access to various outdoor activities, including hunting, snowmobiling, camping and year-round fishing. Lake Thompson, South Dakota's largest natural lake, is located just five miles east of town. J&R Pheasant Hunts, a family owned and operated hunting business a short distance from De Smet, can help organize a trip for pheasant hunting lovers.
Keeping with residents' desire to preserve history and tradition, De Smet celebrated its 125th anniversary from June 6-12, 2005. Governor Mike Rounds issued an executive proclamation, and residents celebrated throughout the week with a parade, an all-school reunion and a giant birthday cake.
