We just [finished -- mom] watching Frontier House, an American adaptation of a fascinating BBC concept (1900 house). In Frontier House, three families are given more or less exactly what families homesteading in Montana had in 1886, and we get to watch what happens (in 1900 house they lived as a family would in London in the year 1900). It was extremely interesting, so if you see it in your local listings be sure to watch.

Anyway, turns out one of the family members eventually went right back (linked to the google cache because I can't find the original article). If you watched the show, you probably won't be surprised who it is.

UPDATE Found this much more detailed account on the Bozeman Chronicle.