1933 Trek Across the Dakotas: A Journey of Resilience and Adventure
In 1933, Earl Neller, a high school teacher from St. Louis, embarked on an 850-mile journey across the Dakotas with six children, including his own and those of a colleague. The trek, undertaken during the Great Depression, involved traveling on foot and hitchhiking, relying on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter. The group documented their journey through photographs and diaries, which were later compiled into a travelogue. The adventure gained renewed attention when South Dakota archivist Matthew Reitzel discovered the travelogue and photographs, leading to a detailed account of the journey being published.