Aberdeen in Brown County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
L. Frank Baum, Author
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 9, 2017
1. L. Frank Baum, Author Marker
Lyman Frank Baum was born May 15, 1856, in Chittenango, New York. He held a variety of jobs from actor to newspaper man to traveling salesman before settling in Aberdeen with his family in 1888.
Baum first opened a variety store called Baum's Bazaar in October, 1888. Under capitalized from the start, hard times brought on by the drought caused the bazaar to fail in January 1890. Baum then leased a newspaper, the "Dakota Pioneer" and renamed it the "Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer". Baum published his first issue on January 25, 1890. The "Saturday Pioneer" was best remembered for its humorous column, "Our Landlady", which took a satirical look at the human condition in general and local life specifically through the eyes of Mrs. Sairy Ann Bilkins, landlady of a fictitious Aberdeen boarding house.
As the drought deepened and subscriptions to his paper fell off, Baum gave up the "Saturday Pioneer" in April 1891 and moved his family to Chicago. Baum's experiences living in Aberdeen are believed to have provided the inspiration for many of the characters and stories in the Oz books.
Sponsored by
Sarah, John, Max, Sam, Gerianne and Steve Pfeiffer
Sculptor Tom Bunkers
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music
this page online
Location. 45° 29.586′ N, 98° 31.192′ W. Marker is in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in Brown County. Marker is on Yellow Brick Road. Marker is located in Storybook Land which is part of Wylie Park. Storybook Land and the Land of Oz are open from April 15 to October 15 each season. Food concessions and amusement rides are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Hours of rides and food concessions may vary after mid August. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2300 24th Ave NW, Aberdeen SD 57401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Leo J. Weber (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Aberdeen, South Dakota Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); T. Clarkson Gage Homestead (approx. 1.3 miles away); Dacotah Prairie Museum (approx. 2˝ miles away); The Great Northern Railroad Depot (approx. 2.6 miles away); Brown County Courthouse (approx. 2.6 miles away); Masonic Temple, Aberdeen (approx. 2.8 miles away); First United Methodist Church (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aberdeen.
Also see . . . Wylie Park and Storybook Land. (Submitted on January 14, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota.)
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 9, 2017
2. L. Frank Baum, Author Marker
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 9, 2017
3. Storybook Land
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 9, 2017
4. Wizard of OZ Sculpture
Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 406 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on November 14, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 14, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
