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Heritage Park, located on the Augustana University campus, is home to the cabin in which Ole Rolvaag wrote Giants in the Earth, as well as the childhood home of Rolvaag’s bride, Jennie Berdahl, and Beaver Creek Lutheran Church and the Eggers School House.
The 140th Wagon Train began on May 18,1873, when the Wagon Train left Fillmore County Minnesota and headed west into the sunset to claim land in the Dakota Territory. It ended on June 18, 1873, upon their arrival in the northeast corner of Minnehaha County, about eight miles west of Garretson, SD. It is believed that this Eleven Covered Wagon Train may have been one of the longest to ever enter Dakota Territory.
On May 18, 1873, a caravan of eight Covered Wagons departed Fillmore County for their new home in Dakota Territory. The Wagon Train started with five families: Mr. & Mrs. Johannes Berdahl with 9 children, Mrs. Power (widow) with 6 children and her brother-in-law Allen Power and his son, Mr. & Mrs. John Loftesness and their 6 children, Mr. & Mrs. Olaus Jenson and 3 children; Mrs. Lars Branvold and 1 son. They were joined a few days later by Mr. & Mrs. Thor Hermanson and his 5 daughters and his grandfather Herman Wangsness and his wife and youngest son. Mr. William Tobin, traveling alone joined the group later in the journey.
They were now a caravan of 46 people with11 covered wagons, 6 horse teams, 5 teams of oxen, along with 85 head of cattle, 8 colts, and 30 sheep. During the first few days all of the youngsters got plenty of exercise by keeping the big herd together following the wagon train. Once in the open prairie the cattle would come along when they saw the wagons move. In the evenings a large tent was used as a dining hall, although each family had to provide its own food.
