Nicollet County Historical Society

We the People: Then and Now
2026-06-13 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | St. Peter Community Center Room 219, 600 S 5th Street, Saint Peter, 56082, United States
We the People: Then and Now
Saturday, June 13
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Free
Saint Peter Community Center, Room 219
Join the League of Women Voters of St. Peter and the Nicollet County Historical Society for an engaging, interactive look at the founding documents that shaped the United States, and the questions they continue to raise today.
Facilitated by Dr. Kate Knutson, Gustavus Adolphus College Political Science Professor, this program will explore the ideas, conflicts, and compromises behind the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Through brief presentations, small group discussions, and interactive activities, participants will consider what these documents say, what they leave unresolved, and how they continue to shape American democracy.
The morning will begin with the historical and philosophical backstory of the American Revolution before moving into a closer look at the Declaration of Independence and the grievances that led the colonies to break from Great Britain. Participants will also learn about the Articles of Confederation, America’s first attempt at a national government, and how its weaknesses helped lead to the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
The session will then turn to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, inviting participants to reflect on the goals named in the Preamble, the rights protected by the first ten amendments, and the ongoing work of democracy. The program will close with a discussion of what comes next, including the strengths of U.S. democracy, the challenges it faces, and what constitutional change might look like.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this program offers an opportunity to revisit familiar documents with fresh eyes and to consider how “We the People” has been understood, challenged, and expanded over time.
Online registration has closed. Drop-ins are welcome as space allows.

hiSTORY hangout
2026-06-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-07-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join us for a hiSTORY hangout on the third Thursday of each month. It’s a free, casual gathering where history is the topic of conversation. Show-and-tell is welcome! Coffee and snacks provided.

Cox House Summer Tours
2026-06-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Step inside the beautifully restored E. St. Julien Cox House and explore the home on a self-guided tour. No reservations needed.
When you arrive, we’ll give you a brief introduction and a printed guide to help you move from room to room and experience what Victorian-era living looked like.
This summer, we’re also featuring Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence on the main floor, a Smithsonian poster exhibit that explores the women’s suffrage movement and connects it to local history through the life of Lillien Cox Gault.
Admission is free. Free-will donations are gratefully accepted and help us care for this beautiful historic home. Thank you!
Please note: The Cox House is not fully accessible. There are steps and uneven ground.

Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery. This project received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative.

Community Affairs on KNUJ Radio
2026-06-23 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-07-28 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-08-25 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-09-22 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-10-27 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-11-24 09:15 - 21:35 | KNUJ Radio
Make sure to mark your calendar to listen to KNUJ Radio on the fourth Tuesday of every month (except December) at 9:15 am for Community Affairs. During this segment, NCHS staff will provide insights into the latest happenings within the Society.
<<CLICK TO LISTEN>>

Treaty of Traverse des Sioux Exhibit Tours
2026-06-27 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-21 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-25 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
The Treaty Site History Center stands where the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was signed 175 years ago. This Treaty between Dakota leaders and U.S. government representatives added millions of acres of Dakota land to the U.S., significantly impacting Dakota communities and the future of southern Minnesota. Our permanent exhibit interprets this watershed event and its lasting impact on Dakota communities and the future of southern Minnesota.
Explore this history during a guided exhibit tour at the Treaty Site History Center.
During the tour, you’ll learn about the Dakota, explore why the treaty was negotiated, what it changed, and how its legacy continues to shape this region today.
If you live, work, or raise a family in southern Minnesota, this history shaped the place you know.
Tours are $5 per person and free for NCHS members. Space is limited to 20 participants. RSVP is required.

Tours require a minimum of 3 registered participants. If that minimum is not met, registered attendees will be notified by email 48 hours in advance and offered the option to reschedule or visit that day for a self-guided tour at the tour admission price.

Cox House Summer Tours
2026-07-18 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-01 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-15 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-29 13:00 - 16:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Step inside the beautifully restored E. St. Julien Cox House and explore at your own pace. No reservations needed.
When you arrive, we’ll give you a brief introduction and a printed guide to help you move from room to room and experience what Victorian-era living looked like.
This summer, we’re also featuring Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence on the main floor, a Smithsonian poster exhibit that explores the women’s suffrage movement and connects it to local history through the life of Lillien Cox Gault.
Admission is free. Free-will donations are gratefully accepted and help us care for this beautiful historic home. Thank you!
Please note: The Cox House is not fully accessible. There are steps and uneven ground.

Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery. This project received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative.
