Keystone Museum — Attraction in Keystone

The Keystone Museum was a wonderful find and one we did not know existed. It's an old schoolhouse turned into a museum. Built in 1899, the school's first classes were held in 1901 and the last classes held were in 1988. As I walked around the school turned museum I could imagine the sounds of children laughing on the way to the basement, where the gymnasium was, for recess during the winter months. The wooden stairs at the entery way show the level of detail they put into their buildings "back in the day". Walking through the old classrooms was very nostalgic and really beckoned back to a simplier age. I even rang the old school bell a few times. Stop in and visit the Keystone Museum, it is even on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior. The cost to visit is free, but it's always good to drop a few dollars in the donation box (it's the wood carved bear at the front door.) Worth the price? It's free! ...

Great experience with a gaggle of schoolkids! They had historical interpreters acting as teachers and "Ma" from the Little House series - which should be required reading before coming here! They had bonnets and pinafores for the girls, newsboy caps and suspenders for the boys - a clever way of helping them find their historical selves - which the kids slipped on before enjoying a "class" with a wonderful teacher. The kids got a kick out of some of the discipline procedures - the dunce cap, putting their nose in a circle drawn on the chalkboard, etc. They had a room set up as the interior of a soddie, as well as a fun museum full of...

I was in Keystone for Mt. Rushmore and didn’t know about this museum until I saw the signs in town about their Carrie Ingalls exhibit. I’m a huge “Little House” fan, so that drew me in. Their Ingalls corner is wonderful and features not only items from Carrie but also her family members. (Its a great complement to visiting the Ingalls homes in De Smet!) The rest of the museum is very nice, with lots of interesting photos and items. The museum volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable....