Keystone in South Dakota is another place not found in Laura's books. However it was the last home of Carrie Ingalls who married David Swanzey an influential citizen of Keystone and mine owner. David and Carrie's house unfortunately burnt down in 1976 but the old Victorian school house is now home to her remaining possessions, and basically anything with her name on that the museum can find! Here you can find books once owned by members of the family and handed on to Carrie. Also on display are items from Carrie's jewelry box and some ornaments Around the walls are photographs, newspaper cuttings and copies of documents of various kinds all containing Carrie's name. Particularly informative and perhaps a little amusing is the newspaper cutting announcing David and Carrie's wedding. In the corner stands the gravestone of Henry Quiner, Ma's brother reminding us that his family lived nearby. Of particular interest is the small figure of a girl in half breeches standing with her hands on her belt. This, it is claimed, is the treasured 'Shepherdess' mentioned in Laura's books as belonging to Ma. It appears that Laura wrote to a fan answering the question 'Where is the Shepherdess' with the statement 'Carrie has it'. Since this letter was discovered some have assumed this figure to be the Shepherdess. Whether it is a Shepherdess and if it is actually contemporary with Laura's childhood are issues yet to be proven but until further evidence can be brought to bear Keystone has its shepherdess! While we were so near to Mount Rushmore (named by Carrie's husband incidentally) we considered it worth a visit particularly since Carrie's step-son was one of those involved in the work to carve the 4 presidents into the rock face. His name is included in the list at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor's Center at Mount Rushmore.
	OTHER PAGES ON THE FRONTIER GIRL TRAIL. Rocky Ridge Museum, Rocky Ridge House, Mansfield, Mansfield Cemetery Kansas Prairie, Independence Kansas, Keystone South Dakota, De Smet, Pa's Claim site, The Homestead, De Smet Cemetery, De Smet Pageant. Tracy, Walnut Grove Museum, Plum Creek, Walnut Grove Pageant. South Troy, Lake Pepin, Pepin Museum, Big Woods house. Burr Oak, Ia., Vinton Iowa. Trail Home Page - - - Frontier Girl Main site Copyright ©, 2000 - Phil Greetham.