Laura Ingalls Homestead

by Katie Beth

Wash on Monday

Simeon cooking in the kitchen of the dugout.

We got to see the whole Laura Ingalls homestead from a watch tower and we got to see a replica of the dugout. We saw a house build just like one of their real houses that they lived in and we got to sit on a hay bed. There was a pump organ in the house and there were bedrooms that were kind of little and there wasn't much furniture except the beds. We also got to see the kitchen and how they made butter. We got to practice doing laundry how they would do it and then we got to ride a pony and drive a cart. Then we got to ride on a covered wagon to the school where we we said few rhymes. I bought a bonnet at the store.

Notes from Mom: A family owns the farm where the homestead was located and have worked to restore prairie grasses and rebuild the hayroof barn and original home to the specifications that Pa did. They were able to get the dimensions of the home from the records when Pa proved up on his homestead. Other structures on the property were historical and moved from other locations, such as the shanty house moved from 12 miles away. I loved getting to see and imagine big slough and Silver Lake, especially because we have been listening to The Long Winter in the car. In town you can do a different tour of some of the the historic buildings that were actually from Laura's time there, but the homestead was incredibly hands on, which was great for our kids! In town we saw Lotus Store and there are markers in the windows of the stores saying what would have been there during Laura's time. .

Cottonwoods that Pa planted

Recreation of the dugout

Walking through the rain to the hay barn

This is the house built to the dimensions that the Ingall's house would have been. This is after Pa added the bedrooms at the back and the room on the right for Mary's organ.

Mark playing Star Wars on the pump organ. He wished he had his piano books to practice. :)

Pumping water

KB riding the pony and Simeon driving the buggy to the school

Reciting a poem with the teacher at the school

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Silver Lake