DeSmet, South Dakota

Visit the South Dakota homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder featured in On The Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, and These Happy Golden Years. Don’t miss the Pageant if you’re visiting in the summer!

  1. Use this website for an overview of the area: Visit De Smet, South Dakota | Little Town on the Prairie

  2. Ingalls Homestead - plan for a half day visit

    1. Ingalls Homestead

    2. $20/person (ages 5 and up).  Admission includes all activities.

    3. Summer hours are 9-7 pm with activities from 10-6

    4. Activities

      1. Covered wagon ride (you drive the team)

      2. Twist Hay, drive a pony cart, wash cloths, make a jump rope with baling twine, make a corncob doll, go to school

    5. Lodging

      1. 4 covered wagons ($70/night, electricity, sleeps 5, screened windows, fan, mattresses and mats, bring your own linens), 1 bunkhouse ($80/night - sleeps 6, electricity, beds, microwave, table and chairs, bring your own linens), 4 RV sites ($30/night) and tent camping ($10/night - no specific spots, pick your spot on the prairie, you do have access to bathrooms and showers)

  3. Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society

    1. Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes - plan for 1 ½ hours to tour the homes.

    2. Guided tour tickets can be purchased at the gift shop at 105 Olivet Avenue.

    3. The Discover Laura App offers a shortened version of the guided tour

    4. Buildings to Tour

      1. Original Surveyors’ House from By the Shores of Silver Lake

      2. Original Ingalls Home built in town by Pa in 1887 

      3. Original first school of DeSmet attended by Laura and Carrie

      4. Exhibition of Ingalls-Wilder artifacts

      5. Tour Calumet Avenue - walk DeSmets Main Street and read about the businesses

      6. DeSmet Cemetery - visit grave sites of Ingalls family and friends

      7. Pa Ingalls homestead one mile south east of DeSmet

      8. 5 original cottonwood trees that Pa planted for his wife and 4 daughters on the first acre of the Ingalls Homestead

      9. Almanzo Wilder’s homestead and tree claim north of DeSmet on Hwy 25

  4. Loftus Store

    1. General store and gift shop, open 9-5 during the week and 9-3 on Saturdays.

    2. One of two original buildings from the 1800s on Main Street

  5. Depot Museum and the Harvey Dunn School

    1. Free to visit, donations are accepted.

    2. Open 10-4 in the summer months.

  6. Wilder Welcome Center on Main Street

    1. Gift shop, attraction info, town maps, travel brochures, bus tours that feature Silver Lake, Lake Henry, the Cemetery, and Almanzo and Laura’s claims. 

  7. Silver Lake Walking Trail

    1. Silver Lake, a pothole formed by melting glaciers, was the site of the railroad camp and the Surveyor’s Shanty that the Ingalls lived in when they first moved to DeSmet.

    2. There is a short path along the lake with excellent wildlife viewing.

  8. Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant

    1. Gates open at 6, pageant starts at 8 with general admission.

    2. Purchase tickets with a credit card at the Ingalls Homestead. At the gate it’s cash only. $15/adults, $10/kids (ages 6 and up)

    3. There are bench seats, or you can bring your own lawn chair if you want a back.

    4. Located at 43387 Rose Lane, DeSmet SD just southeast of town.

  9. Dining

    1. Ward’s Store and Bakery

    2. Oxbow Restaurant

    3. Dairy Queen, Subway

    4. Dugout Steakhouse and Lounge

    5. Grumpy’s Grill and Pub