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Exhibitions
    Nicollet County Historical Society > Exhibitions > Nicollet County Historical Society - Treaty Site History Center > Commemorating Controversy: the Dakota-U.S. War of 1862

Commemorating Controversy: the Dakota-U.S. War of 1862

A sign reads: “Commemorating Controversy: The Dakota-U.S. War of 1862” in large, bold text on a brown and cream background with a curved border at the bottom.

In the late summer of 1862, a war raged across southern Minnesota between Dakota akicitas (warriors) and the U.S. military and immigrant settlers. In the end, hundreds were dead, and thousands more would lose their homes forever. On December 26, 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato, Minnesota, by order of President Abraham Lincoln. This remains the largest mass execution in United States history. The bloodshed of 1862 and its aftermath left deep wounds that have yet to heal. What happened 150 years ago continues to matter today.

Commemorating Controversy: The Dakota–U.S. War of 1862—an exhibition of 12 panels exploring the causes, voices, events, and long-lasting consequences of the conflict—was produced by students at Gustavus Adolphus College, in conjunction with the Nicollet County Historical Society. The project was funded by Gustavus Adolphus College, the Nicollet County Historical Society, the Minnesota Humanities Center, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the people of Minnesota through a grant supported by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Admission to the History Center is

  • $7 adults
  • $6 seniors ages 55+
  • NCHS members and children ages 17 and younger visit for free.

Nicollet County Historical Society - Treaty Site History Center

The Treaty Site History Center is in St. Peter, MN, just off US Highway 169.

Address
1851 N. Minnesota Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082

Accessible parking
A free parking lot is available at the site.
Two disability parking spots are located near the museum’s entrance.
The parking lot and sidewalk are paved.

General
Service animals are welcome
First aid kits are available.
Restrooms on-site are wheelchair accessible.

For visitors with mobility disabilities
The History Center is a single-floor venue.
Public restrooms in the History Center include accessible facilities and diaper-changing stations.

The Nicollet County Historical Society was organized on August 22, 1928. From its home in the Treaty Site History Center, the Nicollet County Historical Society preserves, protects, and interprets the history of Nicollet County and the state of Minnesota.

The Treaty Site History Center features a nationally recognized and award-winning exhibit on the Traverse des Sioux Treaty of 1851 and its consequences. Other features of interest include local history exhibits, a gift shop, and a full-service research archive.

Learn more