Laura Ingalls Wilder

Horse and Covered Wagon

Great Stories Start Here

Laura Ingalls Wilder brought De Smet to life with her series of Little House books, vividly depicting the history of our Little Town on the Prairie that she and her family called home over 140 years ago. Five of Wilder’s nine books are set in De Smet: By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. Laura shares the stories of her young adult years and captures the founding of De Smet.

Born in Pepin, Wisconsin in 1867, Laura Ingalls Wilder moved throughout the Midwest during her childhood, living in Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa before her family settled in De Smet. Drawn to the area by the construction of the Chicago & North Western railroad in 1879, the Ingalls family spent their first Dakota winter in the Surveyor’s House before settling on a homestead claim a mile southeast of De Smet in the spring of 1880. While Laura, her husband Almazo, and daughter Rose moved to Missouri in 1894, the rest of Laura’s family remained in South Dakota. Charles, Caroline, Laura’s sisters, and her infant son are buried in De Smet’s cemetery.

Thousands of people visit De Smet each year to experience our pioneer heritage and one-of-a-kind experiences. Tour original homes, drive a covered wagon across the prairie, watch a live performance of Wilder’s stories on our outdoor prairie stage, and walk the historic main street in the heart of De Smet. We invite you to visit the historic sites and attend our family-friendly events.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) was an American author best known for her "Little House" series, inspired by her childhood in a pioneer family. She and her family traveled across the Midwest, eventually settling in what would become De Smet, South Dakota. Her nine books vividly portray the challenges and adventures of frontier life. These classics are beloved for their themes of family, resilience, and perseverance, highlighting De Smet's rich pioneer history. This photo was taken in De Smet around 1894, shortly before Laura and her young family moved to Missouri.

The Ingalls Family

Ingalls Family

The Ingalls family, central to Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series, is pictured here: seated are Ma, Pa, and Mary; standing are Carrie, Laura, and Grace. They were pioneers who traveled across the American Midwest in the late 19th century, facing numerous challenges and adventures. The family settled in various locations, including De Smet, South Dakota. This photo was taken in De Smet around 1894, shortly before Laura and her young family moved to Missouri.

Almanzo Wilder

Almanzo Wilder

Almanzo James Wilder (1859-1949) was an American farmer and the husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the "Little House" series. Born in Burke, New York, he grew up on his family's farm. His childhood is depicted in Laura's book "Farmer Boy." Almanzo moved to the Dakota Territory in 1879, where he met and married Laura in 1885. Almanzo is remembered for his resilience, love of farming, and his role in Laura's beloved stories. This photo was taken in De Smet around 1884.

Rose Wilder Lane

Rose Wilder Lane

Rose Wilder Lane (1886-1968) was an American writer and the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Born in De Smet, South Dakota, she later moved with her parents to Mansfield, Missouri. A prolific author, Lane wrote novels, articles, and biographies, including "Let the Hurricane Roar" and "Free Land." This photo was taken between 1904 and 1907 while she worked as a telegrapher for Western Union.

Laura & Almanzo

Laura & Almanzo

Following their wedding, Laura & Almanzo moved between his tree and homestead claims. They welcomed their daughter Rose in 1886. Laura wrote about these difficult years in The First Four Years. The Wilders then lived in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and Westville, Florida, for a short time. They returned to De Smet before moving to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894. In Mansfield, Missouri, Laura & Almanzo built their farm, Rocky Ridge, where Laura penned her Little House books. During a 1930 visit to De Smet, this photograph of Almanzo and Laura was taken at the De Smet News office.

Silver Lake & the Big Slough

Silver Lake & the Big Slough

Silver Lake and the Big Slough are important landmarks that Laura often referenced in her books. De Smet sits on the southwest edge of the Coteau de Prairie in the prairie pothole region. Silver Lake and the Big Slough are examples of the shallow wetlands and lakes found throughout the region. It provides important habitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlife. Laura described in detail the diversity and beauty of this ecosystem in her books set in De Smet.

Calumet Avenue, De Smet's main street

Calumet Avenue, De Smet's main street

The Ingalls family arrived before De Smet’s founding. In By the Shores of Silver Lake, Laura describes how quickly new homes and businesses popped up on the prairie in the spring of 1880. Charles Ingalls built and sold a store building on the northwest corner of 2nd St & Calumet Ave before building a store on the southeast corner of that intersection, where the Ingalls family lived during The Long Winter. The Loftus Store, also featured in that book, still stands on Calumet Ave. This historic main street was the core of De Smet’s early community and business life.

Little Town on the Prairie & Little House books set in De Smet

Little Town on the Prairie & Little House books set in De Smet

After many years of writing and the successful publication of Little House in the Big Woods, Laura, with the help of her daughter Rose, envisioned a series of books that would share her family’s pioneer experience. De Smet is the setting for five of the nine books. The Ingalls family was the town’s first residents, and she documents the community's founding.

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