Most folks don't know that bandleader Welk was a highly successful commercial real estate developer. He was a presence in Southern California.

Back when TV was lovely and a positive.

My grandparents got married in 1927 in Lake Andes, SD. They used to go to local dances and Lawrence Welk's band provided the music! I remember watching Lawrence Welk on TV with them, I think on Saturday nights. Long time ago.

Thanks for the history. I've followed you for about a year now, through your Quartzsite videos, and your whole summer trip. You have a nice laid back way of presenting the videos. Being an old farm boy from Tioga, ND, a lived the life the Welk farm documents. That "pond" you discovered on the farm is one of many sloughs (pronounced "slews") that you will find in ND. They're nothing more than lakes created from rain where a depression with no outlet happens to be located. If you count sloughs, ND has more than Minnesota has lakes. We had two on our farm. They provided drinking water for the stock and a place where the migrating ducks, geese, and cranes could stop and rest on their trips south and back north. It made for good hunting during duck season in the fall. The steam engine was powering a threshing machine. Before combines were invented, harvesting was done by cutting the grain (mostly wheat in ND) with binders, that bundled the grain and the binder operator (me, as a kid) dropped the bundles in net rows, where we later "shocked" them (put the bundles upright leaning against one another to so they wouldn't rot in rains that followed). My dad owned a threshing machine and threshed for several of the neighbors. Labor for hauling the bundles in horse drawn hayracks to the threshing machine was done by transient threshing crews that worked their way up from Texas through all the plains states and into Canada. The farmer's wives and their daughters would feed the crew as the machine was moved from farm to farm. Hauling the threshed grain to a storage bin or grain elevator to be shipped to the mills Minnesota, was usually done by the farmer and his sons (me). The machine that you came across in the shed was a grain cleaner, used to screen out all seeds but the wheat that was to be planted in the spring. Keep up the good work!

My Mom LOVED watching him. We never missed his show.

Every Saturday night, the family gathered around the TV for the Lawrence Welk show. And don't forget Liberace!! Sunday nights our supper dessert was saved for Maverick! Those were the days!

I’ll have to visit there to honor my dad. He was such a kind, quiet man who demanded only one thing from us - to let him watch The Lawrence Welk Show every Saturday evening. Haha. He loved it so much.

I remember my dad watching the Lawrence Welk show on Saturday evenings through the 60's and 70's as a kid. Good times.

Surprisingly relaxing video. Great! This old farm was actually nicer than my German grandparents farm in Michigan, so don’t think this was that Spartan. The Welk family actually had it pretty good. Can you imagine driving that driveway in the winter? Probably had an old plow and team of two horses……

Now you’re in my neck of the plains. I’ve driven by this place several times and never stopped in. Made it to the Blue Room in Strasburg a time or two. Strsburg and Hague have two of the most beautiful Catholic Churches you’ll ever see in the Midwest.

I especially like how the small towns don't have Starbucks, Burger King and a million other big chain names. Didn't L.Welk also feature the Lennon sisters ? Really brought back memories.

Old cream separator, we had one just like that, when I was a kid.

Yes we watch every week as a family, they don't do that anymore

Loved it I used to watch The Lawrence Welch show with my grandparents

Yes the Lennon Sisters were great! Very talented family! Loved the bubbles!!!! Champagne Music!!

I played the accordion because of Lawrence Welk!!

I too grew up on Lawrence Welk That homestead reminds of the house my mom grew up in. She was born in 1920 and lived in rural Mississippi. When she grew up there was no electricity or running water. Eventually my grandparents would add both. My mom had a privy and chamberpots growing up. Only entertainment back then was a piano. Strasburg looks like a cool small town.

Thank you. A trip into my childhood.

Yep, I watched Lawrence Welk every week as my grandparents liked him, being a kid I did too.

Watched his show as a kid then became a trumpet player myself his band was an early influence on me

Thanks Russ! Really enjoyed the Welk homestead! I stopped in Strasburg at the Graineries there 2 years ago in February and watched the sun set and it was a gorgeous purple,orange,blue yellow sky! Was a very good memory.

WOW! Very humble beginnings. So cool!

My grandmother always watched this show, I wished for something other channel but soon began to enjoy the music and Welk's showmanship. Back in the day, it was a German-speaking region of America. The reason for his accent all his life.

Leave it to Russ to find this gem in the middle of ND farmland.Lawrence Welk was a very fine man🌟

my dad tells about going to a dance hall in lindy ,ne. in early 1930s and lawrence welk was playing. also that trap door in kitchen floor could be storm cellar.

Tank you, tank you, tank you!

My wifes grandmother emigrated alone from Norway and built a Settlers Shack ( Still There ) eventually 3 side by side, in North area of Sidney, ND.

Happy Labor day weekend! Thanks for Sharing Russ!

And then Dodge gave a new car for life in 1956 through a contest promoted on the Lawrence Welk Show. Dodge sales went up 300% during the promotion.

Thx Russ! Yes I grew up w his music also...my mom met my dad in a ball room where Welks band was playing........we lived near Yankton...I was born there. I was also inspired by the music and started playing trombone at the age of 7. I still play,,,,not well but I can still rip out when the Saints go Marching in....lol I used to go fishing w my grandfather on that lake Baumgartner Lake. We would catch perch and bullheads. Its only like 4 ft deep. We also went to Schwans Lake. I think the Schwanns are all related. Schwanns the Ice Cream guy that comes to your door?

Really have enjoyed your visits and commentary of the Dakotas. Great to share with states that don't get much attention. Welk will always have his nitch in musical and TV programming history. Thank you for sharing. Safe travels!

Hey Russ!!! You did a "GREAT JOB" This "YEAR" On S Dakota!!! "NOW" For N Dakota!!! Be Safe!!!

I live and grew up 20 miles from this location and have been here many, many times. Ty for this. Highway 83. Past small towns. Past the towns of Moffit, Hazelton, Linton and not too many more.

Great video Russ. You forgot to mention bubbles. Lots and lots of bubbles, lol. 😂👍👍

Yo Russ, Who knew, I always thought he was straight over from the old country. My folks never missed his show so yes I grew up watching Lawrence Welk.

Wow very cool driving by Lawrence Welk’s home. My mom enjoyed watching Lawrence Welk on PBS in her later years. And now I continue to watch him on PBS as well. Thanks for the stop Russ! Enjoying our summer journey 🚐☀️😊

Sissy & Bobby! What great entertainment back then! Was once invited to the Swiss park in my town, my uncle played accordion when not running the 101club, his tavern

Actually, that was a nice tour. Thanks!

I’m glad you didn’t enter the gazebo in the park. There’s nowhere to go...just in circles Lol

Realmente me encantan los pequeños pueblos rurales, en la inmensa llanura..Acá en Argentina con la gran llanura pampeana de miles de kilómetros hay inumerables pueblos de 500-800 hab. y hace que se viva en un ambiente rural de tranquilidad y rodeado de naturaleza..No se precisa nada más..Saludos "from" Salto-Buenos Aires Province -ARGENTINA

Thanks Russ! Never knew…. Loved watching Lawrence on TV. Great information!

Luv the difference of country life vs. city life, thanx again for sharing a pleasant trip with us to enjoy too!!!

Stopped there a couple times on the way to Sturgis when we’ve taken the back roads from ND I94 to SD I90, nothing has changed.

Oh yes... I hear the champagne music now and see the bubbles 🍾 😉

Beautiful park....my dog would love that walk.

Turn on the bubble machine! Thanks for the tour!!

I enjoyed the tour of the Welk Homestead and Small Town USA. I enjoy watching "The Lawrence Welk Show" reruns on PBS. I am a big fan of bass-baritone singer Larry Hooper from the Welk Musical Family.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by the Welk Homestead State Historic Site and making this wunnerful, wunnerful video of your experience to share with others! We hope to see you at some of our other sites!

Thank you SOOOO much for stopping by the Talking Trail sign. I paused your video so I could listen. There are so many places that have those Audio Tours, and they are well worth a phone call. Just sayin I had to KZfaq LW and listen, SOOOO many memories came back, Thanks Again.

Yeah, my mom and dad would watch, mostly my mom who was proud that Lawrence Welk was from North Dakota. She was a huge fan, as well the Lakers who were originally from Minneapolis. Likely broke my Grandpa's heart when they left for L.A.

I'm a ND German from Russia. ND State tree is the telephone pole. lol

This is the first time I have seen midwest/ east coast fulltiming by a major youtuber. Would love to see someone do boondocking. The increased challenges would make exciting viewing.

Cool stop along the highway. Thanks for showing us around.

Saturday Night everyone saw the Lawrence Welk show

My grandmother and great grandmother(neighbors) went over to the Welk's on Saturday night when they held dances. They said they always had a lot of fun.

All small towns have military tanks, and they also have drunk tanks. The only time really got into watching Lawrence Welk was when they had their Halloween show. Oh, those days.

I bet you could get some good weather related photos out there⛈❄great job Mr. Russ as usual.stay safe and take care 👍🤠🌴🇺🇸

Great video remind me a lot of when my grandparents came over and the signing of the Tsar from Russia and stuff get into the United States cuz they were from Sweden and Finland thanks again travel safe

and a one..and a two... THANKS RUSS

Love love love this! I remember watching that show every week! Thanks for showing us his homestead!

I like how Russ handles a pandemic, ROAD TRIP. Awesome video, thanks

Very cool. I never knew he was from there.

Thanks for this side trip. My parents were big fans & when I was a kid it was a weekend must watch on TV. Hubby & I lived in ND for 6 yrs but never made it here for a visit. Wonder if he skated on the pond when it froze in the winter. Those 20 belows turned into 30, 40, or more below when the winds blew. Glad I live in a more hospitable climate now as I've gotten older.🥶

I live in southwestern North Dakota, but I was in Strasburg a number of years ago for a wedding. I never enjoyed Lawrence Welk when my father used to watch him on PBS, but, since I was in Strasburg, I had to drive out to his farmstead. Looks like it got fixed up a bit since I visited!

The staircase on the outside was for the upper level where Lawrence and his brothers slept. Time for bed so get your snow boots on because it is deep out there.

My parents favorite TV show and my sister and I would watch it with them every Saturday night, I actually liked to watch Anacani. Still watch the reruns on PBS here in SC and also on KZfaq.

Also polka music. My Mom taught me to dance the polka.

Thanks 🙏

Very cool Russ! Congrats on 70k subscribers 👏

Really cool! I remember as a kid (when we only had 3 TV channels with rabbit ears) my Dad always had Lawrence Welk on when it aired. Great entertainment back then.

Welk homestead would have been impressive back in the day. Thanks for today’s tour.

Love the wide streets reminds me of some of the small towns here in Australia, thank-you for the informative tour...very enjoyable regards Doc from Down under.

Hey Russ! Long time no see... Wunnerful wunnerful video. For sure I watched with my Grand parents. My Mom and Dad went to the dance halls in central Nebraska when he came through. I still watch every now and then on a local Phoenix channel. His accent was so cool whenever he would strike up the band... "A one ana two" Ah the memories!

All I can think right now is ..a one anna 2🎶🎶🎶🎶

Nice tour, thanks.

Hi russ thanks for the video

Thanks Russ! Big fan of RVerTV and Lawrence Welk! I have an autographed photo that is a favorite treasure!

I watch, "The Lawrence Welk Show" every Saturday evening at 7:00pm, Orlando channel. Interesting. I knew he was from ND, but didn't know what it looked like.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing

Welcome to ND

Went there once it’s pretty nice

Big Wave Russ...OMG! Lawrence Welk a North Dakotan. Who would have thunk? You know that one tree on the drive way in the Coyotes needed that to pea tgatbis why they left it there. Isn't that a special little place. Doesn't it take you back. The stove the frontrunner the smells the yard and the Woodstock for cooking. RUSS DOES EVERYONE miss their Grandma's when we get older? I miss mine so much and because Russ it seemed a simpler time. A TIME WHEN HOOES FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS AND WE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED THE HORRORS OF RIGHT NOW. I will tell you a secret I cry some nights because of where we are right now. When Adam says we can do better oh Russ my heart seriously hopes so. Thank you Russ for the shares. I will forever be thankful I had a hand across the border I could just hang onto as It has always been my belief that Canadians and Americans had so much in common and when I watch your show, Yep Russ we do.....Your Live for small town America your respect for our sacrificed sons fathers and grand fathers...every little town. We don't show it much in our country but you have to know we know it live it, think it usually, except for right now. Respect. I never go past a grave where I don't feel the Mother's and Grandmother's anguish of the loss of the baby boys Russ. It took a big toll on our country's aim for PEACE. So Russ let's Luve the dream. I am tired dear of the fight and losses....Is that how you feel? Keep on trucking Russ. Speak later....we are watching. Carolyn from Canada....

We Love RVerTV ; Best TV On KZfaq. Russ Too Cool 4 School.

My mother's family is north Dakota German Russian. Their soddy is still preserved in North Dakota. Love your channel!!!!! Keep up the great fun

russ i really enjoyed the L Welk homestead.... i also though you would take in a few more So Dakota spots, like, Air And Space Museum and The corn palace in Mitchell SD. Try next year.

YOU SHOULD VISIT THE THEODORE ROOSEVELDT STATE PARK. I ENJOYED THE NORTHERN SECTION MORE THAN GRAND CANYON. WE SAW WILD HORSES IN THE SOUTHERN SECTION AS WELL AS BUFFALO

❤.. nice little town would be cool to live there.

Thanx Russ.🗽👍🐴🐏

Yep and my moms fav singer was Anacani!

Ran across your channel and another 14 miles south a little town of Hague good food at the cafe

Works today.

a 1 and a 2

Oh The memories, Great little town . Thank's for the tour.

Not German. Germans from Russia. Fascinating history behind that, and it's a very discrete community out there.

Strasbourg looked liked a ghost town.

Thanks for the tour! It was closed when we passed through last year.

thanks Uncle Roscoe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you see how they had the smoke pipe, run though the other room so it would heat it also.

Here in MS they showed the old LW reruns up until just a few years ago. May still do it in some areas But my mother would watch them all the way up to her death in 2013. She was 95 and enjoyed them like they were new productions. Btw....was the footage of Strasburg on a Sunday? No one was out and about.

Mom's "Dinner!" alam looks a world's common voice.