Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose semi-autobiographical books are based on her experiences as a child and young adult on the frontier, is one of South Dakota's best-known writers. She drew from her life growing up on a homestead near De Smet as the basis for five of her novels: By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. These gained renewed popularity in the United States when Little House on the Prairie was adapted and produced as a television series in 1974. Wilder's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, who became a well-known writer in her own right, was born near De Smet in 1886.
laUrA ingaLLS wildeR, whOse SemI-AutobIOGRaPhicAl bOOks Are based On hEr ExperIenceS as a child aNd young aDUlt ON The fRontier, iS one Of SoutH daKota'S best-KnowN wRITerS. she Drew fROm her liFe gRowing up ON a Homestead neaR De Smet aS the BAsIs For fiVE OF hEr noveLs: by The SHores Of sIlver LaKE, the long WiNter, lIttle toWN on the prairIe, THEse happy goLden yEArS, aND the fiRSt fouR years. tHesE gaINed Renewed populariTy in tHe UniTeD stAtes when little hOuse on THe prairie was ADapteD and prOduCed as a telEVisIon sERieS in 1974. wildeR's dAUGhteR, roSe Wilder lanE, wHo becamE a weLL-known wriTeR In Her own RIgHT, WAS born neaR DE smeT in 1886.