Prairie Homestead

Karen Cusey (KarenQZ)

2024-04

Great historical site with video introduction and period-specific bonnets and hats to borrow and shield your eyes from the summer sun during a self-guided tour. Actual site of a prairie homestead with vintage equipment and outdoor buildings. Gift shop is AIR CONDITIONED with a large assortment of bonnets, hats, and nice items like soaps, candles, magnets, t-shirts, and more.

Jen B.

2023-08

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Jon Hanford

2023-07

What a fascinating place this is!While the nearby Badlands Natl. Park as well as Wall Drug (and it's wildly numerous billboards) might overshadow this place - this is truly a cant-miss for any visitor to the area.Now, I had learned of the prairie homesteaders and their sod houses - but - I admit to being kind of unclear as to what the heck a sod house actually looked like. This museum not only has an example of one such sod house - but a surviving, largely-original, authentic prairie homesteader structure. If I remember correctly, some of the sod bricks around the window had to be replaced, but nearly all of the structure is the original dugout sod home, still standing after over a century.The interior is decorated with artifacts from the period, impressively recreating a living snapshot of how the homesteaders lived at the time.It's truly striking to enter the dugout home - for one thing, seeing the sod bricks and the original timber frame supporting the roof instantly creates an appreciation for the difficulty and craft of the task facing the settlers who built these homes. Secondly - a key advantage and feature of the dugout style home was the natural climate control, and stepping inside the home on a hot day and physically feeling how much cooler it is inside versus outside is amazing (also - refreshing).The site is also home to a pretty well populated prairie dog town, including the rare all-white prairie dogs.Lets go on a tangent about prairie dogs for a bit:-----Digging into some local folklore, apparently these white prairie dogs were either moved to the area of the museum with the help of a local tribe, or bartered for by the museum ownership, depending on who you ask. These aren't albino prairie dogs, nor are they a different species - they have a lack of fur and skin pigmentation called leucism. The lack of pigmentation is a naturally occurring random genetic thing, and apparently this is a thing that sometimes happens to spread through generations to entire prairie dog towns/colonies.Since bright white isn't exactly great camouflage in the grasslands (winter notwithstanding), most of the time, via predators, nature takes its course. On the museum property they're somewhat more protected from natural predators, so this has allowed them to flourish.Prairie dogs are of course skilled tunnelers, so their town now extends well past the museum property - but the level of human activity in the area just in general protects them a bit, enough that they survive.So the claim that they only exist at the museum is half-half-true. They're only known to *persistently* exist in the *area immediately around the museum*, and they have *existed* in other places, just - they're usually easy prey when that happens.I noticed another review complaining about the staff not letting visitors feed the prairie dogs --- lets be abundantly clear, this isn't a petting zoo, these are wildlife.Yeah, the nearby badlands ranch store encourages visitors to feed the prairie dogs there, and I'm unclear if those are somewhat domesticated - but as a rule, keep a bit of distance from wildlife. I'd suggest staying on the trails and out of the grass in general, on the prairie. The dogs aren't inherently dangerous but may carry disease - the rattlesnakes you might encounter in the grass, those are inherently dangerous - none of this is anything to worry about if you stay on a trail or path and out of the grass.In any event, they are cute and fun to watch. They're very social animals with their own community jobs and language.**Thank you for coming to my ted talk.**----So, in conclusion, come to the museum for a fascinating example of homesteader life that gives the visitor a bit of an experience, and while you're there, enjoy - from a comfortable distance - the show the prairie dogs naturally put on as they go about their prairie dog business.

J. Shaw Renner

2022-05

We stopped to see this place shortly after leaving the Badlands National Park. This place is so authentic that you can really see how the early settlers Ed & Alice Brown lived on their 160 acre claim. The sod dugout house they built in 1909 with sod brick walls and grass roof is a sight to behold and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Besides the house there are other interesting things to see such as all the albino prairie dogs. I loved it.I also thought the lady at the counter was not very inviting!

Victoria McPherson

2021-05

Prairie Homestead was very interesting and educational. We have been going on vacation to South Dakota for years, we always pass by here, and last week we actually got to stop! I've never seen an original dugout! This one you can go inside! If you love history and the wild west this is a must stop place. We did a ton of shopping in in the gift shop! Lots of really cool and unique items for sale. Reasonable prices for a tourist location. My mom got almost all of her Christmas shopping done! Clean restrooms. Very friendly staff.There is also an education video on the homestead. We did not watch it.

Quanita Rice

2021-05

This was a cool stop to see how the early pioneers started their lives in this part of the world. It was very interesting. There were white prairie dogs all over the place and a couple of goats. Definite stop before or after going through the Badlands.

Jamie W

2023-05

Went to visit and as soon as we pulled up a bunch of prairie dogs came over. Took pictures for awhile and then gave the prairie dogs some bread a couple times and then a lady came running out screaming, “DO NOT FEED OUR PRAIRIE DOGS!” She glared and yelled again with more emphasis,”DO. NOT. FEED . OUR. PRAIRIE DOGS!” The gig next door to this place has open feeding of prairie dogs, where tourists are walking right up and feeding them. If there’s no feeding allowed, then maybe put up a sign (in this case a bunch of signs) saying so instead of screaming at the guests!

Paula McElhinney

2022-05

Fun visit for first going into the Badlands. Everything bur the outhouse which was destroyed last winter is all original. The Brown family homesteaders the acres and the family stayed around there. Only place that has white Prarie dogs which were so fun to watch play. The house was quite big for those days. There's a stabletype barn, a cellar for storing food or weather emergencies. Something not to be missed on the loop through the Badlands.

Sarah Mitchell

2021-05

Fun stop to see what life living in the Badlands was like for the homesteaders. The visitors' center had some cute items including handmade bonnets for sale. Also, the fact that the homestead was surrounded by adorable prairie dogs was a plus!

Scott Kendrick

2020-05

Loved visiting this unique view of early living in such a beautiful and stunning location. The entire homestead was open to be touched felt and held, do not miss the opportunity to pet the goats they are so very friendly.

Kate Straub

2021-05

Delightful historical dugout home and tiny cabin lovingly preserved by its original descendants. It gives a fascinating glimpse of life for the pioneers who came to S Dakota to create a better life for their families. This is well worth a visit and is right next to the Badlands.

Amanda Deutsch

2023-07

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Timothy Calicott

2023-10

Walk into history. Authentic. Staff is very helpful and friendly.

Daniel Rosenberg

2023-09

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Lucas Wiseman

2021-05

A great, quick stop to get a really excellent idea of how they lived in this area back in the early 1900s. The cost per adult was $6 plus tax, a small price to pay to view a preserved piece of history. Plus, the prairie dogs are adorable - especially the white ones! Very rare!

Boonies65

2021-05

This is just outside of the badlands park and worth a stop. Very interesting to see the way of life in a sod house. I can't remember the price to get in but you can spend an hour here.

Ann Martin

2021-05

Interesting place to visit. See what a homestead was like. Nice little shop and quick movie on the family.

Mike DeLeonardis

2018-05

A very educational and enjoyable place right outside of the Badlands. If you want to see how people lived over 100 years ago on the prairie, this is the place to go. Self guided tours at your own pace allow you to feel like you're in 1900. Just watch out not to step on any prairie dogs and you'll be good. The place also has a nice gift shop where you can get and anything from sarsaparilla to a huge bison head.

Sarah Munson

2022-05

This was the first homestead house in the west built by Mr and Ms brown so cool to see and go through.

Amanda Bassham

2022-05

It was closed, so we couldn't get a look up close. Very cool to see white prairie dogs

Elizabeth Kapper

2023-10

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Julie Schneider

2023-05

Loved the white Prarie dogs. They look like little fat puppy's when they run.

Ruth Eiermann

2022-05

Enjoyable to go back in time and see how our ancestors lived. Very friendly staff.

Maria Herrera

2023-05

The lady in there was very educational about the prairie dogs.

Harley Dree (The Hudson Path)

2023-09

Amazing stop! Fantastic couple running the store. Reasonable priced good quality clothing. Super fun bonnet & hats to borrow during our tour.

Natalie Killebrew

2019-05

Cool place to visit. Wish there was not a fee to walk out and see the house.

Rich Schurter

2020-05

Worth your stop, part of the displays are flooded right now and other areas such as the goat area are in need of cleaning up. That said, this stop gives you an idea of life in South Dakota by those who settled the area.

Mike Holbrook

2023-05

Unique homestead and prairie dogs. Liked the gift shop.

Angela Austin

2021-05

Great place to witness a real sod house and the hardships of life on the prairie. Worth the time to see.

Phil Trivilino

2020-05

Nice old homestead but not free to go look at.