A Visit To This South Dakota Homestead Will Take You Back In Time

Early settlers in South Dakota were hardy folks (this is where we get those great genes!). They moved in around the turn of the 20th century and set up homestead in sod houses. Then they battled drought, rattlesnakes and crop failures and never quit. Our history is rich and interesting, and you can learn more about it while having a whole lot of fun.

In 1909 Ed and Alice Brown established their prairie homestead. Their home was situated on 160 acres, which was so hardscrabble that they were barely able to feed eight cows.

This is one of the last original sod homes in South Dakota, and you can tour it and the surrounding buildings to see what it was like to be a homesteader in the early 1900s.

First, stop by the Visitor Center where you'll pay admission ($7 for adults; $6 for kids ages 10-17; free for kids 9 and younger). You can grab a paper guide that will give you information about the buildings you're about to tour, or get a free audio tour on your cell phone. You can also watch a historic video presentation here.

Want to really get into the pioneer spirit? Dress up like a pioneer while you're here!

The original part of Ed and Alice's home was dug right into the hillside. The walls were made of sod, which acted as good insulation for cold winter nights, and kept the family cool in the hot summer heat.

The amenities certainly weren't what we're used to today.

Ed and Alice built onto the home as they could, making several additions.

Of course, indoor plumbing wasn't one of the amenities the Browns enjoyed - they had to use the water pump to get fresh well water for bathing, cooking, and drinking.

And of course, there were no flush toilets. In fact, there was no toilet paper! Last year's edition of the Sears & Roebuck catalog served nicely.

You'll also check out the chicken coop...

...and the cellar. Food was stored here, and it also served as a safe harbor during particularly bad storms.

In the yard, you'll find old farm implements. You can also have a picnic lunch on one of several picnic tables.

The white prairie dogs are everywhere! They're pretty tame, and might be so bold as to come begging for a bit of your sandwich.

A cute little pony and some goats also call Prairie Homestead home.

Visit Prairie Homestead from May to October, seven days a week during daylight hours.

You'll find Prairie Homestead at 21070 Sd Highway 240 in Philip.

For more information, visit Prairie Homestead's website.

Have you visited Prairie Homestead? What's your favorite thing about this unique attraction?