De Smet, South Dakota & State #8!!!

We are in South Dakota!!  State #8!!  It is so fun, by the way, to put each new sticker on our map on the outside of the RV! :)

After we left Walnut Grove, we only did the next best thing, and visit the small town of De Smet.  The Ingalls family moved here after the grasshoppers destroyed their crops, and Pa was offered a job.  We traveled Hwy 14, which is also the official "Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway.  Even though Ma and the girls traveled by train, Pa went ahead on the buggy...it definitely made you thankful for automobiles! 
We have been reading another of Laura's books, By the Shores of Silver Lake, where it describes this move and their new life in De Smet, SD.

The museum in town has a great set up with a gift shop and wonderfully expressive tour guide.  She lead us to the Surveyor's house first, and then a replica of the school Laura would have taught in at the young age of 15!  Then, our guide took us to THE ACTUAL school that Carrie and Grace attended!  TOO COOL!

After this, we took a stroll down a few blocks to THE HOUSE that Pa built for Ma!  Grace and Mary lived here with Ma and Pa.  There were SO many artifacts in the home, like clothes and jewerly, and books and dishes. 

The house also had some of the original floors and doorknobs.  :)
Blessings,
Steph