The Children’s Blizzard

An extreme blizzard that led to 170 deaths in South Dakota alone. Many of those who passed away were school children trying to walk home, giving this blizzard its name. This blizzards is also sometimes referred to as the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888.

"Black and white print from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper titled " Scenes and Incidents of the Recent Terrible Blizzard in Dakota". There are 3 scenes on the page. The images are: 1. A Rescue Party at Huron, Bund Together by Ropes Searching For Missing Children. 2. A SchoolMistress Compels a Pupil to Walk All Night to Prevent Freezing. 3. Another Brave Teacher Shelters One of Her Pupils From the Storm." — B&W print from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper titled " Scenes and Incidents of the Recent Terrible Blizzard in Dakota."

Available Resource(s):

The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin can be found at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum in Brookings *

This book can also be found online on amazon, ebay, etc., or at libraries throughout the state.

O’Gara, W. H. In All Its Fury, the Blizzard of January 12, 1888. Lincoln, NE: Union College Press, 1947.

Contact Carrie Van Buren, the Collection Coordinator at the museum, in advance if you have a specific item that you wish to see.

Acc#1991:186:001. Call # F666 I53 1947

”Scenes and Incidents of the Recent Terrible Blizzard in Dakota” from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, January 28, 1888, page 401.

Acc #87:022:003

The “Children’s Blizzard” in the Black Hills Country

Detailed description of the blizzard by the National Weather Service .

Image Citation: Scenes and Incidents of the Recent Terrible Blizzard in Dakota, 1987:022:033. South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, Brookings, SD. *