News

This page is dedicated to Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society news and upcoming events. Please check back often for new information.

NBC Films for Today Show Profile

Camera's were rolling on Monday, August 22, at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes in De Smet! A camera person from NBC visited to do research and filming for a profile piece to be shown on the Today show August 27, 2011.

NBC Filming

LIWMS Selected for Google Grant

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society is a recipient of a Google Grant award.

The Google Grants program supports organizations sharing Google's philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts.

Designed for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, Google Grants is a unique in-kind advertising program harnessing the power of Google AdWords advertising product. Google Grants has awarded AdWords advertising to hundreds of non-profit groups whose missions range from animal welfare to literacy, from supporting homeless children to promoting HIV education.

Hampton Inn Gives LIWMS $20,000 Plus Volunteers

The LIW Society became the 37^th landmark to be refurbished by the Hampton Hotel’s Save-A-Landmark Program.

This is the first landmark project scheduled for South Dakota .

The hotel provides man-hours of help and funding to communities in three countries – United States , Canada and Mexico .

Gina Valenti, spokesperson for Hampton , didn’t know who nominated the LIW historical site for recognition. She said the program was developed nine years ago by corporate employees wanting to give back to the communities.

About 25 volunteers from Hampton and many from the De Smet area came on June 13 and spent the day preparing to scrape and paint buildings and do lots of landscaping, which included moving plants and shrubbery, planting trees and many, many new shrubs and grasses and mulching the entire area. Much of the work was completed that day.

Cheryl Palmlund, executive director of the LIW Society said her group was contacted in February about the program. She said the grant funds will be used for a variety of projects including repairs to the gift shop, the first schoolhouse of De Smet, landscaping and the Surveyors’ House where the Ingalls family lived their first winter in De Smet.

Guthrie Theater Presents "Little House" Musical

Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved "Little House" books, this world premiere musical centers on the independent spirit of the teenager Laura, the family's settlement in DeSmet, South Dakota, and the hardships and joys faced by a family in a pioneer community.

Internationally renowned opera and theater director Francesca Zambello leads a cast of familiar faces and rising stars in this world premiere musical presented on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

Broadway veteran Steve Blanchard leads the Ingalls family through the joys and hardship of pioneer life as “Pa." Melissa Gilbert, best known for her work in the 1970s television series, returns to her Little House roots to play “Ma," with her signature character Laura coming to life on the musical stage through the talents of Kara Lindsay.

Jenn Gambatese plays the role of eldest daughter Mary, a character who struggles with scarlet fever and its resulting blindness. Rounding out the Ingalls family is Twin Cities native Maeve Moynihan as Carrie .The cast also features Sara Jean Ford as the prissy, spoiled and manipulative Nellie Oleson, and Kevin Massey, who brings romance to the prairie as Almanzo Wilder.

The Guthrie is located in downtown Minneapolis on the west bank of the Mississippi River at 818 South 2nd Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota.