Discover Laura Center

From our Laura Ingalls Wilder Literature Theme Tour 

This town is truly “Laura’s Little Town”. In DeSmet you can start your visit by visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society. From there you can travel to the gift shop to sign up for the tour. The tour takes you to two homes of the Ingalls family. The first home featured in the book by Laura “By the Shores of Silver Lake”. The second is the Ingalls home on Third street, the last home for Pa, Ma, and Mary. Also on the tour you will see the replica of Brewster School, the school house Laura taught in. Next your student group will see the Society Headquarters’ newest addition, the “First School of DeSmet”, the school where Nellie Oleson, Eliza Wilder, Carrie, and Laura attended. Finally your adventure will proceed to the Discover Laura Center. This one room schoolhouse has been transformed into a hands-on learning experience. Student travelers will enjoy spinning wool, learning about Braille, and sewing on a treadle sewing machine.