Film Series | I Am DB Cooper
2025-05-01 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
In 1971, an unsuspecting criminal by the name of DB Cooper boarded a plane, stole $190,000, and jumped out. The legend of DB Cooper only continued to grow over the years, and the case was largely considered closed until a man came out of the woodwork to confess his crime.
Two bounty hunter brothers encounter an ailing old man named Rodney Bonnifield while coordinating his bail after a violent encounter on a dairy farm involving a machete. Close to his sentencing, he reveals to the bondsmen not only was he responsible for the notorious DB Cooper plane hijacking, but the ransom cash is still buried, and he needs their help digging it up. Up against the clock with Rodney’s prison sentence looming, the group set out on a modern-day treasure hunt to recover the money he buried on the Columbia River 50 years ago, uncovering bizarre truths about Rodney Bonnifield and his connection to the only unsolved hijacking in US history.
WATCH THE TRAILER
Rated TV-14. 1h 40 min.
The Films on First Thursdays documentary film series is presented in partnership with the Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education. The public can attend these free films at the Nicollet County History Center.

Stripped of Citizenship: American-born Women, Marriage, and Expatriation in Minnesota
2025-05-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
As a result of federal legislation in 1907, American-born women lost their citizenship when they married alien men. Derivative citizenship resulted in thousands of Minnesota women becoming aliens in their own country. Digital tools and databases make learning who these women were easier. Scholars to date have focused on American women who married German nationals because all enemy aliens—including American-born women married to alien men from Germany and some of its allies—had to register with the federal government. Thus, there is a clear paper trail for some states. Such a trail exists in Minnesota, too, because of a unique 1918 order that required all aliens (and not just enemy aliens) to register in the state.
In this presentation, “Stripped of Citizenship: American-born Women, Marriage, and Expatriation in Minnesota,” Lori Ann Lahlum explores the expatriation of American-born women in Minnesota who married aliens and the ways in which we can reclaim their stories.
Admission is $5.00 for non-members and free for NCHS members.

Community Affairs on KNUJ Radio
2025-05-27 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-06-24 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-07-22 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-08-26 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-09-23 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-10-28 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-11-25 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>>

Cox House Self-guided Tours
2025-06-07 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-21 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-05 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-19 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-02 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-16 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Cox House Self-Guided Tours Begin in June
Step inside the beautifully preserved 1871 E. St. Julien Cox House and explore at your own pace.

Tour Dates: June 7 & 21, July 5 & 19, August 2, 16 & 30
Hours: 1–4 p.m.
Admission: Free. No reservations required. Free-will donations appreciated.

Upon arrival, you’ll receive a short introduction and a printed guide to help you navigate the home. Wander from room to room and experience what life was like in Victorian-era St. Peter.
New this year: A temporary textile display features historic garments from the Nicollet County Historical Society collection, highlighting fashion, fabric, and finely stitched details from the past.
Admission: Free will donations are welcome to help us support this historic property
Location: In St. Peter, Minnesota, at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Skaro Street.
Accessibility: The Cox House is not fully accessible. There are steps and uneven grounds.

Log Cabin Workshop
2025-07-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Mark Johnson of Artisan Restoration in Kasota will teach us how cabins were built and maintained in the past during this hands-on workshop. If you’re interested in participating, please wear appropriate clothing. This event is free, and no registration is required.

NCHS at the Fair!
2025-08-07 12:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-08 10:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-09 10:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-10 11:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 W. Union Street, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join us at the Nicollet County Fair for “Nicollet County Town Ball: A Nine-Inning Historical Showcase,” celebrating the rich history of local baseball teams, including the St. Peter Saints, Lafayette Grays, and Courtland Cubs. Visit us inside the Thompson Exhibit Building from Thursday, August 7, to Sunday, August 10, to talk with staff, volunteers, and Board members.

Shadows at the Crossing: Spirits of Old Traverse des Sioux
2025-10-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Traverse des Sioux, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Lantern light, prairie air, and voices from the past. Experience Traverse des Sioux after dark on this immersive guided tour. At six stops along the trail, you’ll meet costumed interpreters portraying real people connected to this place. They’ll share their stories in first person, giving you a glimpse into the choices, challenges, and resilience that shaped Minnesota Territory.
As daylight fades, the atmosphere shifts. Early evening tours highlight the prairie landscape; twilight and nighttime tours surround you with rustling grass, night sounds, and the glow of lanterns on the rocky path. The setting creates an unforgettable focus on the storyteller before you.
Long before Minnesota was a state, Traverse des Sioux was a river crossing, a gathering place, and the site of the 1851 Treaty. Today, little remains of the town, but Shadows at the Crossing brings its layered history to life.
Tour details:
– Six stops led by a guide
– 60–65 minutes in length
– Daylight tours (6–6:30 pm) emphasize the site; twilight and evening tours (6:40 pm and later) heighten the atmosphere
Tickets:
– Adult: $12
– Senior (55+): $10
– Child (12–17): $5
MNHS & NCHS members: 20% discount
Recommended for ages 12+
Advance purchase encouraged

Shadows at the Crossing: Spirits of Old Traverse des Sioux
2025-10-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Traverse des Sioux, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
During Shadows at the Crossing, step into the past on this immersive, lantern-lit outdoor tour that brings the history of Minnesota Territory to life. Along the way, you’ll encounter the spirits of those who lived at Traverse des Sioux during its most pivotal years. Their stories of courage, conflict, resilience, and cooperation offer a deeper understanding of our shared history.
Once a key gathering place along the Minnesota River, Traverse des Sioux experienced a surge in prosperity after the signing of the 1851 treaty, but its growth was short-lived. Today, little remains of the once-thriving town, making this event a rare opportunity to explore its layered legacy.
Tickets:
Adult: $12
Senior (65+): $10
Youth (ages 12–17): $5
MNHS & NCHS members receive a 20% discount
Recommended for ages 12 and up due to the interpretive nature of the program.
Advance purchase recommended. Walk-ups will be accommodated as space allows.
Tickets go on sale Friday, September 12.

Shadows at the Crossing: Spirits of Old Traverse des Sioux
2025-10-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Traverse des Sioux, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Lantern light, prairie air, and voices from the past. Experience Traverse des Sioux after dark on this immersive guided tour. At six stops along the trail, you’ll meet costumed interpreters portraying real people connected to this place. They’ll share their stories in first person, giving you a glimpse into the choices, challenges, and resilience that shaped the Minnesota Territory.
As daylight fades, the atmosphere shifts. Early evening tours highlight the prairie landscape; twilight and nighttime tours envelop you in the rustling of grass, the sounds of night, and the glow of lanterns on the rocky path. The setting creates an unforgettable focus on the storyteller before you.
Long before Minnesota was a state, Traverse des Sioux was a river crossing, a gathering place, and the site of the 1851 Treaty. Today, little remains of the town, but Shadows at the Crossing brings its layered history to life.
Tour details:
– Six stops led by a guide
– 60–65 minutes in length
– Daylight tours (6–6:30 pm) emphasize the site; twilight and evening tours (6:40 pm and later) heighten the atmosphere
Tickets:
– Adult: $12
– Senior (55+): $10
– Child (12–17): $5
MNHS & NCHS members: 20% discount
Recommended for ages 12+
Advance purchase encouraged

Dolls of the Dark
2025-10-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Step into the Cox House this Halloween season for a unique and intriguing experience with our dolls of the dark.
The house will be quiet. The halls will be dim. And in the soft, flickering light, our dolls will be waiting for you…
You are invited to a three-night-only display of dolls from the Society’s collection, along with select pieces from private collectors—including porcelain beauties, fractured smiles, and threadbare forms long since forgotten. Discover these forgotten playthings through a scavenger hunt of cryptic clues, eerie trivia, and whispered invitations to explore.
There will be no jump scares, no haunted house actors, just the uneasy feeling that someone, or something, is watching.
Suggested donation: $5 per personMinors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
As you exit, cast your vote for the favorite and creepiest doll of the evening. Each dollar you give counts as a vote. Help us decide which doll leaves the most lasting impression.
Step lightly. They’ve been waiting a very long time.

Trick-or-Treat at the Cox House
2025-10-31 17:00 - 18:30 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Families are invited to come trick-or-treating at the Cox House on Halloween Eve from 5:00 to 6:30 PM.

Dolls of the Dark
2025-10-31 18:30 - 20:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Step into the Cox House this Halloween season for a unique and intriguing experience with our dolls of the dark.
The house will be quiet. The halls will be dim. And in the soft, flickering light, our dolls will be waiting for you…
You are invited to an unsettling display of dolls from the Society’s collection, along with select pieces from private collectors, including porcelain beauties, fractured smiles, and threadbare forms long since forgotten. Discover these forgotten playthings through a scavenger hunt of cryptic clues, eerie trivia, and whispered invitations to explore.
There will be no jump scares, no haunted house actors, just the uneasy feeling that someone, or something, is watching.
Suggested donation: $5 per personMinors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
As you exit, cast your vote for the favorite and creepiest doll of the evening. Each donation you give counts toward that doll’s tally. The doll with the highest total at the end of the night wins. Help us decide which doll leaves the most lasting impression.
Step lightly. They’ve been waiting a very long time.

CLOSED FOR FALL BREAK
2025-11-27 - 2025-11-29 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Nicollet County Historical Society sites and offices are closed for fall break, November 27-29, 2025.

hiSTORY hangout
2025-12-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Whether you’re a seasoned history buff or just curious about the past, this event is for you. New residents, families, and everyone in between are welcome. Ask questions, listen to the discussion, and enjoy learning about local history from your friends and neighbors. Show-and-tell is encouraged, so bring any photos, artifacts, or stories you’d like to share.
Free snacks, coffee, and great conversation!
