Town.
	It was exciting travelling to De Smet, passing through places made familiar through Laura's books; places like Huron and Manchester. Of course De Smet is like many towns in this area but this town is different because while reading the books, in my imagination I have been here many times before. The first place of interest is the main street now known as Calumet St, and the junction with Second Avenue. This is the location of Pa's town house in the books. It appears that Pa's house was sold, moved and dismantled but the location is clearly marked with a plaque on the present building on that plot. Across the wide street (50 ft I would say) is a row of stores, one of which declares it is the 'Loftus store'. Indeed it turns out to be the one from which Mr Loftus sold the wheat to the starving townsfolk during the long winter. It no longer sells general mercantile but amongst the other souvenirs you will find tiny little bags of wheat if you want something to remember it by. The official tourist trail starts at the Surveyor's House, in which Laura and her family lived during the first winter at DeSmet. (It has now moved from its lakeside position and been brought into town) the trail ends at the 'Ingalls Home' which was the house Charles built in 1887 after Laura had married and he had given up farming. The Surveyors House is full of furniture and equipment contemporary with the 1880's but of course none of it belonged to the Ingalls. However a chest made by Pa is exhibited there. The Ingalls' home contains an exhibition of items owned by the Ingalls family. The living room has been reproduced exactly as a photograph Carrie took in the 1890's depicts it. Upstairs contains furniture and other items belonging to Rose Wilder Lane, Laura and Almanzo's daughter.
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