The subject of this book is appealing to South and North Dakota rail fans, but just-doesn't-quite satisfy. It is a general overview of the history of the Milwaukee Road in these states, and contains a good number of pictures, but it falls flat. The focus is more on freight operations than the passenger trains. Most disappointing was the lack of coverage about the Aberdeen, South Dakota Milwaukee Road depot and operations. The Aberdeen facility was the largest depot in South Dakota, and the "Hub City" of the railroads in the Dakotas merits more than minimal coverage in a book about this subject. Couldn't the author have located more photographs from the Milwaukee Road Historical Association, the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, Dacotah Prairie Museum collection, or publicized with a news release or even advertised for the general public to submit historical photographs for this book? The text is OK, it's good that an author actually took interest in writing a book focusing on the Dakota operations, and the available photographs are interesting, but overall, the book is unsatisfying and a disappointment.

Rick Mills' book tells the story of the construction, heyday and decline of the Milwaukee Road Railroad in North and South Dakota. The text and photographs pay the ultimate tribute to the men and women who constructed the Milwaukee Road and built the Dakotas. Throughout the book, rare and unique photos document the building of "America's Resourceful Railroad". Especially interesting are the photos which document the passage of the last Milwaukee train across the northern main line. The book goes on to cover modern operations on the Milwaukee lines after the State of South Dakota purchased them to prevent abandonment.

I can only comment on the Kansas section of this book, but that leaves a little to be desired. It seems that Knapp found the most popular trails but didn't dig too deep. Another problem is his tendency to list utterly boring rides on semi-maintained doubletrack. If someone buys a mountain biking guide book, it means they are looking for the real thing, not some flat access roads. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of alternatives to this book for cyclists in the midwest so I still have to recommend it as part of your collection, if for nothing else but the states you do not live in.

trying to bridge the gap betwwen art and anthropolgy she has done a fine job of presenting her work and making it easy to understand for a moron like myself.

"Where Peasants Sing: Life in South Dakota 1900-2000" is a charming, unpretentious little book of "happy stories about life in South Dakota." Most yarns are from the days when people "plowed fields and planted seeds on the untamed prarie."

Tales cover an impressive variety of topics. They range from the famed "Corn Palace" in Mitchell---a building so large that it houses sports events, yet is covered each year with "600,000 ears of corn of all kinds"---to a "complicated recipe for Swedish meathballs."

Author Clayton Davis writes in a casual style, tells readers pleasing tales as they apparently come to his mind. For example, in writing about the giant grain elevator in his wife's hometown, Redfield, he also informs readers a bit about concrete construction of some 2000 years ago. Then he briefs us about "the first concrete reinforced bridge built in America." And he also mentions inventor Thomas Edison making "houses with poured concrete (that sold) for less than $1,200 and are still standing."

This book has many photos, mostly family snapshots. There are pictures of the author's wedding to Irene Brink in 1952; her grandmothers---"One was from Sweden and the other from Czechoslovakia;" a friend's sleek racing car; uncle Charley's old cow; and more.

Closing the book is a laid-back description of the author's "trip (to) see South Dakota the way an early mapmaker saw it." Davis reports briefly on such places as a hunting lodge where you can stay in "private rooms (or) an eighteen-bed dorm;" Britton, the town named for a general manager of an area railroad; Fort Sisseton, which offers "A five hour guided walking tour;" and other such attractions.

If you are interested in mostly early-Americana, based largely on "first-hand accounts told by immigrants in northeasten South Dakota and archival materials," written in informal prose and structure, this may be just the book for you.

This is a dandy capsule history of South Dakota development. Using basic family stories, author Davis sketches the development of one small segment of South Dakota from immigrant soddy to motorcar racing to modern class reunions. Along the way he provides a snapshot of comic hardships and truimphs of hardworking Swedes who settled this treeless country of hard winters and hot summers. From blind mules to racecars to chicken stealing skunks, family stories provide insight to daily life on the prairie and progress to the present. Much of the book centers around Redfield, a small rural town and home of the author's wife, and one section provides details of Swedish meatball delights and Lutefisk. Lutefisk being a dish only appreciated by dyed in the wool Swedes.

Author Davis concludes the book with a cook's tour of South Dakota, providing useful information and tips for touring the countryside.

A delightful book highly recommended for history buffs.

This book covers only very well known locations and only of rocks and minerals suitable for lapidary. This book is a good 30 years out of date. In my own state, I have been to every location listed and 90% of them do not exist anymore or are no longer accessible. In addition, I know of several other areas that are well known but not listed. Don't waste your time with this book.

it is stupid , crazy , wild ,ect..