Today was the first of our two days in De Smet, SD.
We got here yesterday afternoon and parked the motorhome in one of the spots right on Pa's homestead, now a museum, etc.
Little Bit had fun playing with the other kids who are staying here and all the kids had fun playing with some cats that apparently live here.
This morning we headed into town to tour the buildings that are there. They aren't open tomorrow, but the homestead is, so we'll see it then.
The Surveyor's house where they stayed their first winter in SD. Laura describes how big and fancy it was. It's a lot smaller than I expected! Especially considering they had up to 15 extra men staying with them. This is the original house, restored to similar to how it was in 1879/80, but moved from it's original location to a lot in town.
The pantry in the Surveyor's house.
A replica of the whatnot that Mrs. Boast helped the Ingalls make.
The unfinished wood that was the original exterior of the Surveyor's house.
The next stop was the school house where Laura and Carrie went to school.
Again, an original building but moved from it's original site.
Little Bit got to ring the school bell.
When they outgrew the school, it was used as a residence for years before the historic society obtained it and restored it to it's original condition. When they removed all the layers of wallpaper they found the original chalkboards!
Little Bit got to try grinding wheat in a coffee mill like they had to do during the hard winter.
Our final tour stop was the house Pa built in town in 1887.
He built the right side first, then added the left side as time and money allowed. This is where Pa and Ma lived for the rest of their lives.
This was Mary's Bible. Rather than being Braille, it's raised type.
Grace's room
The 3rd bedroom upstairs was set up with things that belonged to Rose (Laura's daughter)
Carrie's room
An example of the"insulation" and such inside the walls.
The first picture Carrie took.
posted from Bloggeroid
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