My Grandfather's homestead overlooked the Badlands of North Dakota, between Medora and Sentinel Butte. They settled there about the same time as the Brown Homestead was built. My father tended sheep in the coulees there. The family left in 1925, after a particularly harsh winter. My father was just 15, but the Badlands remained an important part of his identity for his whole life.
My great-grandma Berg (my Mom's grandma) lived in a soddy when she was a girl in North Dakota. I guess they couldn't make a go of it there and they moved to Wisconsin. Locusts, drought, disease, prairie fires, there was so much that could go wrong. Settlers were gamblers, willing to risk everything on one season's crop. -- One thing that isnt talked about much: Some of them went insane. Imagine living in the East where trees were everywhere and then moving to a treeless prairie. Nothing but rolling grass as high as your knee or more. Miles and miles of wind-blown grass. Like waves in the ocean. No neighbors for 50 miles maybe, if you were one of the first to settle a region. Deprived of stimulation, time took it's toll. Some of them went stark raving nuts.
No amount of video footage can capture the roughness of the bad lands. I highly recommend a personal visit for anyone if you ever get a chance. Well done video and thanks for the memories of my trip.
Awesome place, was there in 2004 with two teenage sons. Drove into Badlands from Wall,SD. First thing we encounter is a herd of buffalo coming down the road, we were the only car, I stopped and the herd walked right by us. Drove thru Badlands into Lakota Sioux reservation a place all should see. Was running out of gas in the Trailblazer had to drive 50 miles to a gas station then drive thru the Grasslands Park up into Custer and the Black Hills. Got to get back out there.
It really is an amazing place. I was actually going to do a few videos on the Pine Ridge Reservation but because of covid, the border was closed and I couldn't get in. Next time!
Criss crossed this country for 3 decades and 'The Dakotas', is one of my favorite places on the map. Not just for how rugged and beautiful it is but, also for the diverse people who inhabited those areas and made it home, before and after Manifest Destiny.
The Badlands are amazing! I've been there and it seemed almost like desert country -- very dry and HOT in the middle of June. I loved the visit immensely! And the sodhouse is unbelievable. To think that families actually lived in these blew my mind!
Here in Australia it reminds me a bit of Coober Pedy in South Australia, where they mine opals and a lot of the population live under the ground due to the heat. Love your stuff 👍
I had forgotten this video! Wow! It really pays to go back and watch things again! (I may or may not be guilty of binge watching your channel) *intervention not needed* this is so good for me
I'm near Sioux Falls, we had to go to Rapid City last year to pick something up and I got to see the Badlands from the road. Even from there they were really impressive. We didn't have the time to explore there but we did go through the Black Hills, just as impressive.
That is one hell of a camera you've got there! Love the details. I swear by watching a lot of these videos I feel like I'm right there! I love seeing and learning about historic places all over the country/world. If you think about it, people from history walked right where you were. Great video as always!
Thankyou for Making this video I only went past the badlands we are crossing the United States at that time 1975 I am so glad I got to see that thank you for filming
Fascinating and incredible adventure as you journey across America. I’m inspired by your travels. I wish you the best and safe travel with your family. 🚒🚒🚒🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
That was awesome scenery. Looks a little like Bryce and Zion canyons. I know Teddy Roosevelt was in South Dakota so I may have just given a teaser for a future video. Laura Ingalls lived in a dugout in Minnesota. Happy Trails.
Great video it must be very gratifying to see all of these great places and the main temperature under the ground is 55° they have a abandoned mining town in the deserts of Australia a whole City Underground
Great video! I appreciate all the work you do for your videos! We have an area of CA that is as rugged but not as beautiful as the badlands. Seeing those Mountain Sheep is sure something! Thank you!
Several years ago I did the same thing but in the Badlands around Abanilla, Spain. Amazing experience exploring the old cave houses and walking around such a beautiful place. Looks identical.
Thank you History Underground. Those houses were tornado resistant too I believe. I have never seen one in details as you portrayed here, so excellent job and thank you! Great channel and my favorite for history...
Thanks to you I’m getting to see n learn about our country . This was fascinating. I read some of the comments n one said many would go a little Coo Coo living like that, I know I would. I’ve heard of the Bad Lands now I’ve seen it . Love every minute of this video. Thanks ♥️♥️♥️👍👍👍👍😊
Excellent!!! THIS KIND OF STUFF EXCITES ME . I loved every minute of this video. I love to hike and love old homesteads. This homestead was top notch. The badlands are so lovely!! I want to jump in the car and head that direction. Thankyou so much History Underground 🤠🙋♀️
This was fascinating! The scenery from the hike was beautiful. I loved seeing the homestead with the furnishings especially the old wrought iron bed with the handmade quilt. They were very tough people!!
My mother and father would be 100 yrs old. Both grand fathers were farmers they knew what hard work was. My mother's father was born in Nebraska in a dug out.
I love your stuff man! Super knowledgeable and tells a more human history lesson. I was wondering if you ever looked into some of the pirate history in America. I’ve always heard different stories but I was wondering if I could get your take on a lot of the interesting history of the pirate days!!! Keep it up man!
That is an interesting area for a history traveler. Wounded Knee is on the back side of the Badlands National Park and the Minuteman Missle National Site is right in that little area.
Funny story. I was planning on going to both of those places. The missile site was closed down due the pandemic and I was turned away at the border of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for the very same reason. So those will have to wait for a future trip.
When me and my parents when we used to travel we got to see the badlands we saw mules no long horn sheep and there was something we learn while there those wagon trains went thru the badlands a few got pretty badly damaged and still there left to rot and many lost there lives due to the having to be rugged hard core but was a good experience for me personally.
I just stumbled upon your channel. How grateful am I !!!!! It is so well done. You are articulate and pleasant to listen to! My son is a history teacher for special ed kids and he thoroughly enjoys also. Thank you !!
Wow, thank you! That really does mean a lot. Tell you son thank you as well. History teachers and students are the exact reason why I started this channel in the first place.
I am soooo enjoying your channel!!! Hubby will even watch with me and he’s not a History nerd like I am...lol Your content is awesome! Please keep making these. This Grandma is History traveling through your eyes and loving every minute
Come up to western North Dakota to the badlands...Theodore Roosevelt National Park...and Fort Union at the confluence of Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers
Thanks for sharing really enjoyed the vlog as i have a disability and this adventure would be impossible for me so I get to go with you and get to see and learn things otherwise impossible safe travels
That was an awesome video. I have been through there on a motorcycle when I was with a Christian Motorcyle Ministry Hellfighters when we would work the annual Sturgis Rally. Never had the time to get off the bike for a walk around so thanks for sharing your adventure. Can you imagine the smell of burning Buffalo chips inside the dugout for cooking or for heat in the winter time....ewwww!
Looks like where one of those "I shouldn't be alive" episodes was filmed. It's amazing some of the places people set up a homestead. Check out Key's Ranch in Joshua Tree National Park if you ever get out that way. Much the same vibe as the homestead you visited.
I am the Museum Program Coordinator for the Model T Museum in Richmond, IN! Right there at 15:26, you saw a 1920's Model T Roadster! Next time you come through Indiana, check us out and I'll give you the tour of the only Model T Ford Museum in the world!
@@TheHistoryUnderground Thank you so much for responding! I've been watching your videos for a while and I'm in awe of the stuff you film! Ironically enough, I'm not very technically inclined but the history of the Model T is where I'm good at! Even though you can't drive one here, we can figure out a solution to get you in one of our cars to ride in! We would love to expand our outreach as not very many people know about us! If you'd like more information or set something up in the near future, please let me know and I'll more than happily give you my contact information! I'd love to show you around our wonderful museum! 40+ vehicles and displays between 2 buildings! We would love to host you!
My grandfather spent many hours combing the badlands looking for Indian relics not to mention agates precious rocks he was a farmer not too far from the badlands he took my brother with him got it on film walking those hills nice memory ! Of course they never had a ladder to climb those rocks back in those days lol. Might add those formations have dulled a bit in time formations were a lot more sharper in contrast
Unfortunately, I couldn't make the climb as I am terrified of heights but I must say that the scenery was awesome. I have only ever heard references to the badlands in movies or books, but now, even though I wasn't there physically, I can honestly say i have now seen it.
One of the best libraries I had been in on Civil War diaries and historical hand records was in Sunnyvale Calif. Not of course to be compared w. Huntington Beach, which I would have loved to have seen. I suppose that in the S. and E. there are many such libraries. Our fam. did histories...one included a woman's letters near or at end of Civil War.. Woman in the S. of course married, was in a "pall of information", her husband being a timid man she saddled the horse (a decent one) and rode into town, to find out what was happening, had to jump a Yank barricade to get there. I love to read the old historical letters anywhere available.
Rabbits and prairie dog die off was happening in the west due to infection. During covid it was mainly rabbits. They are coming back now, but were thinning.
Tough doesn't begin to describe those people! Place looks like you said something from another planet. Speaking of, didn't NASA use some of the area for testing the Lunar and Mars rovers? That hike was going to be hard but I knew well worth it and it was. Wow!!!! As for the prairie dog, nah, it wasn't white, just bleached from the sun! (LOL just kidding) Can't wait until the next video. Wow!
It really is an amazing place. I'm not sure about the NASA stuff. I thought that testing was done more in the southwest, but I could be wrong. Thanks for watching!
Another great video. We love the Badlands for hiking (recognized the trail) and wildlife and nature and also history, so this one appeals on multiple levels. Thanks for posting.
This was another amazing vid and I really enjoyed it so much and thank you for Sharing your amazing videos and keep up the great work and much love from England 🏴🏴
Thanks again for yet another great video..your go-pro work is spot on..I guess that is what you use..you teach us all more than we learned in school..and I am an old guy hehe...keep up the great work..watch out for snakes..eekk..Bob...
Thanks! The pack is a 72 hour pack from 5.11. The med kit is one that I put together that has about everything that you'd need to patch up everything from a minor scratch to a gunshot wound :)
I do get into the Black Hills but Custer’s Last Stand was actually out in Montana (which many get confused by because so many things in western South Dakota are named for Custer). Hope to get out there someday.
