Learn About Laura Ingalls Wilder in De Smet, South Dakota

Laura Ingalls Wilder fans from around the world come to De Smet, South Dakota to experience Laura’s life firsthand. With its many Laura-related sites and activities, De Smet offers a unique chance to explore Laura’s legacy in her hometown.

Who is Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Laura Ingalls Wilder was an American author and pioneer best known for her “Little House” series of books which chronicled her family’s journey across America in the late 19th century. Laura wrote about her experiences as a young girl growing up on the Great Plains of the Midwest. In the 1970s, fans were exposed to her through the widely successful TV show Little House on the Prairie.

Interested in purchasing The Little House books?
Here is an Amazon link to the 9-volume set.

Did Laura Ingalls Wilder live in De Smet South Dakota?

Laura Ingalls Wilder did actually live in De Smet, South Dakota. She and her family made their way to De Smet back in 1879 when Laura was just twelve years old.

Historic Places in De Smet, South Dakota

You’ll love getting an up-close look at Laura’s childhood and exploring important sites throughout De Smet!

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes

At Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes in De Smet, visitors can take a step back into Laura’s life by touring the original homes and school of the Ingalls family.

Take a guided tour of the Surveyors’ House, the Original Ingalls Home, the First School of De Smet, and an exhibition room with original Ingalls-Wilder artifacts. The tours are led by knowledgeable staff members of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society.

Hours vary depending on the time of year. Check the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes website for the most up-to-date hours.

It is free to walk around the buildings. To take a tour inside, admission is $14 for adults and $7 for kids. Children 5 and under are free.

There is also a little park across the street if you want to pack a picnic lunch and let the kids play.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead

For Laura Ingalls Wilder fans looking to experience Laura’s life firsthand, the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, South Dakota is a must-see. Located on the original homestead that Laura and her family lived on, visitors can explore the area where Laura wrote about her pioneering experiences as a young girl growing up on the Great Plains of the Midwest.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead is a really fun experience, especially with kids, even if you aren’t an avid fan. We have been twice now. It is a huge hit with our family!

Start your experience in the gift shop before heading outside to see all of the fun attractions.

One of the highlights of the visit is the covered wagon ride. You load up into a wagon pulled by two mules for a tour of the property. You go past the fields, get a pioneer lesson at the one-room schoolhouse, and hop off again to take a tour of the church. They even let the kids take the reins and drive the wagon!

The Homestead offers activities to get you involved in the history of the place. You can wash clothes on an old washboard, learn how the Ingalls survived the winter by twisting hay to burn, make a corn cob doll, and even make your very own jump rope.

Kids will love the pony rides. They can ride in a saddle and be led around or ride in a pony cart.

Depending on the time of year, you can also see farm animals in the livestock barn and a garden full of various crops.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead Hours & Admission

The homestead’s hours vary depending on the season. They are closed in the winter. Check the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead website for the most up-to-date hours.

Admission is $20 for ages 5 and up in the summer and a little cheaper during the spring and fall. If you are going to be in the area for more than one day, let them know when you purchase your tickets and you can come back again during your visit for no additional charge. Advanced ticket purchases are not necessary.

You can see everything in a few hours, but I encourage you to stay awhile. You can do the activities as many times as you like. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the views.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead Covered Wagons

For an extra special visit, consider staying in a covered wagon on the property. There are large covered wagons that sleep five and small wagons that sleep 3. You have to bring your own bedding and pillows.

The homestead also offers a bunkhouse, RV sites, and tent sites. Bathroom and shower facilities are located at the visitor center. Make a reservation through their website.

De Smet Cemetery

If you have read Laura’s books, you know that life on the prairie was not easy. They lost numerous family members while in De Smet. You can view the grave sites of several members of the Ingalls family at the De Smet Cemetery, including Charles, Caroline, Mary, Carrie, Grace, and the infant son of Laura and Almanzo Wilder. 

Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant in De Smet is an annual event held during the summer that celebrates Laura’s life and legacy.

The pageant features actors portraying Laura and her family as they recreate scenes from the Little House on the Prairie books. It also includes musical performances, wagon rides, and a variety of other activities that bring Laura’s story to life.

You do not need to purchase tickets in advance.

Accommodations Near De Smet

There are a few quaint accommodation options in De Smet including the Prairie House Manor, Heritage House Bed & Breakfast, and the De Smet Deluxe Inn & Suites.

Brookings is about 45 minutes away and has highly-rated standard hotels such as the Hampton Inn and Suites and Comfort Suites.

If you are looking for a larger town to stay in, Watertown is located about an hour away and Sioux Falls is located about 1.5 hours away. Both of these towns have a large variety of accommodation options.

Other Attractions Near De Smet

Brookings, South Dakota is about 45 minutes from De Smet. It has a variety of attractions including the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, the South Dakota Art Museum, and the McCrory Gardens.

Watertown, an hour away, has the Bramble Park Zoo, the Redlin Art Center, and the Codington County Heritage Museum.

Sioux Falls, about an hour and a half from De Smet, is a large town with attractions including Falls Park, Butterfly House & Aquarium, and the Great Plains Zoo.

Other Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Places

Laura Ingalls Wilder is an American icon, and her books are beloved by generations of readers. If you’re a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, you may be interested in visiting other historic sites associated with Laura’s life.

In addition to De Smet, there are several other Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Places located throughout the United States. Each place offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore Laura’s life and legacy through interactive exhibits, events, and activities related to Laura’s stories.

Pepin, Wisconsin

Located in the historic town of Pepin, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthplace is where her beloved Little House on the Prairie series began. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Pepin displays Laura’s history as well as the history of Pepin. It is open seasonally from May 1 through October.

You can also take a self-guided tour of The Little House Wayside Cabin, the original site of Laura’s birth. Step into a reproduction of the cabin from Little House in the Big Woods.

If you’re up for a good time with the family, check out Laura Ingalls Wilder Days which happens one weekend in September. It’s a neat event that takes you back to America’s pioneer days, mixing fun and learning!

Independence, Kansas

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie in Independence, Kansas is a must-visit for fans of Laura and her books. Located just two hours from Wichita, this historic site is a great way to explore Laura’s life on the prairie.

Visitors can tour a recreation of the Ingalls family cabin and see other buildings from that time period including Charles’ hand-dug well, Wayside post office, and the Sunnyside school.

The site is open seasonally from March 15th to November 1. There is a small admission fee.

Walnut Grove, Minnesota

Laura’s family lived in Walnut Grove, Minnesota in the 1870s. The popular “Little House on the Prairie” TV show was set in Walnut Grove.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum here showcases memorabilia from the show as well as artifacts from Laura’s life. The museum is open seasonally from April through October. There is an admission fee for ages 5 and up.

The Wilder Pageant is an entertaining, family-oriented outdoor theatrical production portraying the inspirational life of Laura Ingalls Wilder in Walnut Grove. The Wilder Pageant is an annual event held on select weekends in July.

Burr Oak, Iowa

Laura and her family spent time living in Burr Oak, Iowa from 1876 to 1877. During this period Laura’s father helped manage the Masters Hotel.

Stop in the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum Visitor’s Center to purchase a tour ticket. You will then be led on a one-hour guided tour of the Masters Hotel to give details of the Ingalls’s life there.

The museum is open seasonally from May to mid-October.

Mansfield, Missouri

Laura made her final move to Mansfield, Missouri in 1894. This is where she began writing and completed her beloved books.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum consists of a well-displayed museum, the farmhouse that Laura and Almanzo lived in that still contains their belongings, and the more modern Rock House that Rose built for her parents in 1928.

The museum and homes are open seasonally from March 1 to November 15. There is an admission fee for ages 6 and up.

To see where Laura, Almanzo, and their daughter Rose are buried, visit the Mansfield Cemetery.

Interested in purchasing The Little House books?
Here is an Amazon link to the 9-volume set.

Learning About Laura Ingalls Wilder in De Smet, SD

Visiting Laura Ingalls Wilder’s historic sites in De Smet, South Dakota is a great way to experience her life and legacy. Step back in time at Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes. Learn about life on the Homestead, enjoy a wagon ride, and take part in some of the exciting activities.