On the banks of Plum Creek

A long time ago, there was a mom and two little girls. One night the mother called her girls into her bed and said she was going to read a book to them. The little girls thought this sounded like a nice way to end the day, especially because they both liked stories. The mother picked out the book "Little House in the Big Woods" and began to read. Every night, she would read one chapter, although sometimes, if the little girls begged enough, the mother would read a second chapter. The oldest girl sometimes tried to read ahead, but her mother wouldn't let her. Reading the Little House series of books became a nighttime ritual and no reading ahead was allowed. 

The mother and the two daughters together read all the books in the Little House series, which fast became the girls' favorite books. After they finished all the books, the oldest girl read them again on her own, time and time again. She loved the pioneer setting, and liked to imagine herself as a fiesty tomboy in a dress like Laura Ingalls, even though she wasn't at all like Laura. She loved to read about how Ma made maple candy from syrup and snow, and she liked the pictures of Pa and his fiddle. She tried to read Braille like Mary learned to do, and imagined owning a set of name cards like Laura got when she was a teenager.

Fast forward to Friday, when this little girl is now a grown woman. She has to go to a dental convention mixer in Sioux Falls. Between her house and Sioux Falls is a place called Walnut Grove, where Laura Ingalls lived when she was a young school girl. The events of her life from that time became the book On the Banks of Plum Creek. 

I had to go. Jim was nice enough to agree to make a detour to see whatever I wanted to look at. We left early enough in the morning to make a slow travel day get us to Sioux Falls in time to shower and dress for the mixer.

The historical marker on the side of the road

Plum Creek is literally a creek, small enough for little feet to wade across. Big feet didn't because I was afraid of leeches--there is an episode in the book where Laura and Mary discover leeches in Plum Creek, and later, Laura leads a rival girl into the leech infested water as an act of revenge.

Plum Creek almost directly across from the dugout house site the Ingalls lived in for a while

The dugout house is unrecognizable as a house now because it caved in many years ago. The place was very small, only the size of a covered wagon--can you imagine a family of 5 living in a 6x10 foot space?

Jim walking down the path that used to be the dugout roof.

Signage

After walking around Plum Creek, we made our way to Walnut Grove, where they have a Laura Ingalls Wilder museum. I had to stop and peruse the museum. There was much about Laura's life and her letters. There were lots of artifacts from the time period and a room dedicated to the TV series "Little House on the Prairie." It is apparent from the number of items they have focusing on the actress who played Nellie Oleson, that they like her.

Outside there is a small area with some buildings dedicated to teaching about life during the 1870s.

A parlor organ that the public is invited to play. Yes, I took them up on that offer. I had to pump the air with my feet. I want a parlor organ.

A replica school house. This place was the size of most sheds these days.

The sod house was even smaller.

Jim and I spent about 3 hours exploring the Plum Creek site and the museum in Walnut Grove.

I am going to have to get the books out and read them again.