Nicollet County Historical Society

Cox House Self-guided Tours
2024-08-03 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-22 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-08 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Step back in time and experience the Victorian era with a visit to the Cox House.
This unique historic home offers self-guided tours every other Saturday from June 8 to August 31, allowing you to explore at your own pace. No reservations are required.
Upon arrival, you will receive an introduction and written guide to help you navigate the Cox House. Once inside, you can immerse yourself in the Victorian age and feel as though the family has merely stepped away, allowing you to see how they lived and what their homes looked like.
This summer, the Cox House also presents the captivating exhibition “Marian Anderson: A Brush with Nature.” Immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world through Anderson’s vibrant landscapes, charming wildlife paintings, and even delightful food art, all displayed within the historic setting.
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.

Strengthening Community Through Historic Preservation
2024-05-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
May is Historic Preservation Month! The 2024 Preservation Month theme is “People Saving Places” to shine the spotlight on everyone doing the work of saving places—in ways big and small. To recognize Preservation Month, the Nicollet County Historical Society is hosting a presentation by Michael Koop from the State Historic Preservation Office on Thursday, May 16, at 6:00 p.m., entitled “Strengthening Community Through Historic Preservation.” Historic preservation involves:

Recognizing places from our past that are important to the American people.
Caring for them.
Using them to enrich our lives.

These special places reveal every aspect of our country’s origins and development. Historic places help us understand who we are and the meaning of our accomplishments and shortcomings. Preservation, above all, protects and maintains our past for future generations. Efforts to conserve historic resources are founded on the involvement of many individuals and organizations, including our local community. The real action in historic preservation is at the local level since the results of survey, planning, and evaluation work must be integrated into other broad planning efforts. Hear about the variety of work done by Minnesota’s Heritage Preservation Commissions to create a range of tools to educate and reach people and to help conserve important historic properties across the state.

Film Series | Leave it to Beavers
2024-05-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
A growing number of scientists, conservationists, and grass-roots environmentalists have come to regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the disastrous effects of global warming and worldwide water shortages. Once valued for their fur or hunted as pests, these industrious rodents are seen in a new light through the eyes of this novel assembly of beaver enthusiasts and “employers” who reveal the ways in which the presence of beavers can transform and revive landscapes. Using their skills as natural builders and brilliant hydro-engineers, beavers are being recruited to accomplish everything from finding water in a bone-dry desert to recharging water tables and coaxing life back into damaged lands. 60 minutes. NR.
<<WATCH THE PREVIEW>>
The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fifteenth season of documentary films! The public is welcome to join us for these free films at the Treaty Site History Center.

NCHS ANNUAL MEETING
2024-04-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
NCHS Annual Meeting
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
5:00-7:00 p.m.
RSVPs are requested by April 19, 2024
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Business Meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.
Program tentatively scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
The meeting is open to the public. There is no cost to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
<<DOWNLOAD MEETING MATERIALS>>
Special Guest Speaker
Rachael Hanel
Gain a deeper understanding of Camilla Hall, a Saint Peter resident whose notoriety stems from her association with the Symbionese Liberation Army.
To accompany Hanel’s talk, the exhibit More Than a Headline: A Closer Look at the Art and Life of Camilla Hall is on display at the meeting. It showcases several of Camilla’s prints and provides an overview of Camilla’s life—from her girlhood in St. Peter to her move to Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and ultimately to Berkeley, where her fate was sealed.

NCHS Board of Directors meeting
2024-04-22 16:30 - 18:00, 2024-02-26 16:30 - 18:00, 2024-01-22 16:30 - 18:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
The public is invited to join the meeting of the Nicollet County Historical Society Board of Directors. Materials are available at the meeting or upon request.

Author Talk with Cindy Wilson: Vignettes from my Books Featuring the St. Peter area, 1879-1881
2024-04-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Wilson will introduce us to the amazing family of railroad surveyor Charles Wood Irish, along with stories from her new book that have an area connection. Her talk will then talk about the Hard Winter of 1880-81, centered on Nicollet County. Join us for this engaging talk!
Cost to attend is $7.00 per adult and $5.00 per NCHS member.

Film Series | New Eye on the Universe
2024-04-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
In July 2022, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released its first images, looking further back in time than ever before to show our universe in stunningly beautiful detail. But that was just the beginning: With tons of new data and spectacular images flooding in, Webb is allowing scientists to peer deep in time to try to answer some of astronomy’s biggest questions. When – and how – did the first stars and galaxies form? And can we see the fingerprints of life in the atmospheres of distant worlds–or even within our own solar system? 54 minutes. NR
<<WATCH THE TRAILER>>
The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fifteenth season of documentary films! The public is welcome to join us for these free films at the Treaty Site History Center.

NCHS Annual Meeting
2024-03-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
EVENT POSTPONED
NCHS Annual Meeting
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Doors open at 1:00 PM
Business Meeting starts at 1:30 PM
Program to follow
Special Guest Speaker
Rachael Hanel
Gain a deeper understanding of Camilla Hall, a Saint Peter resident whose notoriety stems from her association with the Symbionese Liberation Army. To accompany Rachael Hanel’s talk, the exhibit More Than a Headline: A Closer Look at the Art and Life of Camilla Hall opens at the meeting. It showcases several of Camilla’s prints and provides an overview of Camilla’s life—from her girlhood in St. Peter to her move to Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and ultimately to Berkeley, where her fate was sealed.
RSVPs are required by March 20, 2024.
The meeting is open to the public. There is no cost to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

Film Series | Groundbreakers
2024-03-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Film Description
Through the eyes of women athletes who changed the system, the new two-hour documentary Groundbreakers celebrates 50 years of female excellence in sports. Hosted by sports icon and champion of equality Billie Jean King, the film weaves together the first-hand stories of eight icons to discuss how Title IX and their own achievements forever changed the course of women’s sports.
The interviews pair an athlete at the top of her game today with an athlete whose achievements helped pave the way for those who followed. The pairings include Billie Jean King and flag football star Diana Flores; basketball legend Nancy Lieberman and Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim; soccer star and World Cup winner Julie Foudy and Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee; and track and field world-record holder Jackie Joyner-Kersee with four-time tennis Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka.
These far-reaching and dynamic conversations showcase the perseverance, pain, and progress of women who dared to challenge the system, defy conventional norms and change the games we love forever. Groundbreakers celebrates the advancements of women in sports and society, while also revealing the generational mentorship and community building that has fueled the progress made alongside the ongoing pursuit of equality for women everywhere.
1h 55 min. NR
<<WATCH THE EXTENDED TRAILER>>
The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fifteenth season of documentary films! The public is welcome to join us for these free films at the Treaty Site History Center.

Super Snow Saturday
2024-02-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Free Admission Day
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Explore the exhibits, make farm animal masks with kids, and take a walk around the historic Traverse des Sioux trail.
Babe
2:00-3:30 PM
Join us for a pig-ture perfect screening of Babe – the tale of a pig with big dreams and an even bigger heart. Bring your snacks and let Babe’s journey from the farm to fame warm your hearts.

Film Series | War of the Worlds
2024-01-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
WE INTERRUPT OUR PROGRAM TO BRING YOU A SPECIAL BULLETIN…

Film Description
Shortly after 8 p.m. on Halloween Eve, 1938, the voice of a panicked radio announcer broke in with a news bulletin reporting strange explosions taking place on the planet Mars, followed minutes later by a report that Martians had landed in the tiny town of Grovers Mill, New Jersey. Although most listeners understood that the program was a radio drama, the next day’s headlines reported that thousands of others plunged into panic, convinced that America was under a deadly Martian attack. It turned out to be H.G. Wells’ classic The War of the Worlds, performed by 23-year-old Orson Welles.
Featuring interviews with film director and cinema historian Peter Bogdanovich, Welles’s daughter Chris Welles Feder, and other authors and experts, as well as dramatizations of some of the thousands of letters sent to Welles by an alternately admiring and furious public, War of the Worlds explores how Welles’s ingenious use of the new medium of radio struck fear into an already anxious nation.
<<WATCH THE TRAILER>>
The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fifteenth season of documentary films! The public is welcome to join us for these free films at the Treaty Site History Center.

Film Series | JFK & LBJ: A Time for Greatness
2023-12-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
In many ways, President Lyndon B. Johnson was the most unlikely champion of Civil Rights. But his actions in the White House told a different story when he dared to champion two laws that changed America and the world – the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Now, fifty years later, JFK & LBJ: A Time for Greatness sheds light on the fascinating story of a president who knew how to harness the nation’s grief over John F. Kennedy’s assassination, twist arms, and get his way. The film includes rarely-seen footage, secret White House tapes, and personal testimony from LBJ’s advisors, biographers, friends, and family.
60 min., NR.
<<WATCH THE TRAILER>>
The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fifteenth season of documentary films! The public is welcome to join us for these free films at the Treaty Site History Center.

Give to the Max Day 2023
2023-11-16 | Virtual, MN
Gather. Preserve. Share. That’s what we do at the Nicollet County Historical Society. We are charged with gathering documents, artifacts, photographs, stories, and more about the history of Nicollet County. We preserve them to share now and in the future through programs, exhibits, and more. In doing so, we make history more relevant and meaningful to people today by connecting them to what happened in their past.
Being storytellers and custodians of thousands of items takes staff and volunteers thousands of hours each year using not only their time and talents, but also supplies like boxes, folders, exhibit boards, and so much more.
If you believe in the importance of gathering, preserving, and sharing Nicollet County history, please consider making a gift on Give to the Max Day on November 16.
DONATE TODAY
Thank you for your continued support.

CANCELLED - Your Legacy: Family, Church and Charity
2023-11-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Are there people and organizations you care about and want to help financially? Learn strategies for leaving a legacy.

Explore spontaneous, intentional and strategic/planned giving.
See examples of people who have established legacy gift strategies.
Learn about foundations for charitable giving.

During the session, we’ll also explore estate strategies and tools you need so your final wishes are clear.
This workshop will be held at the Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 North Minnesota Avenue, St Peter, Minnesota on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. It’s hosted by Patti J Kelly, FIC, CLTC® and Chanelle E Braekkan, FIC, RICP®, CLTC®.
Please call 507-934-0997 or email patti.kelly@thrivent.com to reserve a place for yourself and a guest.
Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.
No products will be sold.
Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.
For more information visit thrivent.com/social

Film Series | Choctaw Code Talkers
2023-11-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
In 1918, not considered citizens of the U.S., Choctaw members of the U.S. American Expeditionary Forces were asked to use their native language as a powerful tool against the German Forces in World War I, setting a precedent for code talking as an effective military weapon and establishing them as America’s original Code Talkers.
60 min., NR.
<<WATCH THE TRAILER>>
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The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fifteenth season of documentary films! A generous St. Peter American Legion grant sponsors this year’s films. The public is welcome to join us for these free films at the Treaty Site History Center.

Free Family Friday
2023-10-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Bring the whole family to explore the History Center at no cost.
Enjoy some hot apple cider while you explore the exhibits and take a walk on the trail.

SHADOWS AT THE CROSSING: SPIRITS OF OLD TRAVERSE DES SIOUX
2023-10-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-10-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Traverse des Sioux, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Step back in time to the mid-1800s and embark on a captivating journey through the annals of Minnesota Territory’s history with “Shadows at the Crossing: Spirits of Old Traverse des Sioux.” This outdoor lantern-lit tour is a unique, immersive experience that brings the past to life, transporting you to a pivotal moment in the region’s history.
Traverse des Sioux has a rich and complex history that spans centuries. Once a crucial gathering spot for Native Americans, it offered a shallow river crossing and abundant plains for hunting and trading. However, the signing of the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux led to the forced relocation of the Dakota people and the town’s transformation into a settlement. Although it briefly thrived, the establishment of a county seat in nearby St. Peter caused its decline. Today, little remains of this once-bustling town.
Join us for “Shadows at the Crossing: Spirits of Old Traverse des Sioux,” a lantern-lit guided tour that brings the history of the town to life. Meet five inhabitants from the pivotal era and hear their stories of courage, resilience, conflict, and cooperation. This engaging and enlightening experience promises to deepen your understanding of Minnesota’s heritage.
Tickets for Shadows at the Crossing are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 10 and up, and $20 for families. Nicollet County and Minnesota Historical Society members receive a 20% discount. Tours begin at 6:00 p.m., with the last one departing at 7:50 p.m. Due to limited space, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance, although walk-ups will be accommodated if space is available.
Embark on this unforgettable journey through Minnesota’s past. Get your tickets now.

Film Series | Ruthless - Monopoly’s Secret History
2023-09-14 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
For generations, Monopoly has been America’s favorite board game, a love letter to unbridled capitalism and — for better or worse — the impulses that make our free-market society tick. But behind the myth of the game’s creation is an untold tale of theft, obsession, and corporate double-dealing. Contrary to the folksy legend spread by Parker Brothers, Monopoly’s secret history is a surprising saga that features a radical feminist, a community of Quakers in Atlantic City, America’s greatest game company, and an unemployed Depression-era engineer. And the real story behind the creation of the game might never have come to light if it weren’t for the determination of an economics professor and impassioned anti-monopolist.
Part detective story, part sharp social commentary, and part pop-culture celebration, Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History presents the fascinating true story behind America’s favorite game.

75 min., NR.
<<Watch the trailer >>
——-
The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fifteenth season of documentary films! A generous St. Peter American Legion grant sponsors this year’s films. The public is welcome to join us for these free films at the Treaty Site History Center.

The Grange: A Fraternity of Farmers that Championed Rural America
2023-09-07 14:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join us as agricultural historian T.J. Malaskee delves into the long-forgotten history of America’s first fraternity of farmers, the Grange. The Grange was a radical post-Civil War Era movement that pushed for progressive measures to heal the nation through agriculture, education, equality, and social interaction as the United States saw growing tension between western rural farmers and eastern urban industrialists. The Grange—more formally known as the Patrons of Husbandry—was founded by Minnesota Farmer Oliver H. Kelley in 1867, and the rural movement took off here in his home state, eventually reaching a membership of over one million men and women across the country. Find out more about this intriguing history and learn how the Grange has played a role in your life today!
The presentation will take place on September 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is $10 per adult, $7 per member, and $5 per child.

Saving Your Stuff: how to care for art, heirlooms, and personal collections
2023-08-24 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Saving Your Stuff: how to care for art, heirlooms, and personal collections
August 24 at 2:00 PM | History Center | FREE
Learn about the “ten agents of deterioration” and how to preserve and protect the things you value. There will be a presentation followed by an open question and answer period. Recommendations for how to find additional resources will be provided at the event.
About the presenter:
Megan Narvey is the Outreach Conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society, where she provides guidance to individuals and local historical organizations on caring for collections big and small across the state of Minnesota. Before coming to MNHS, Megan worked as an Objects Conservator at the Western Archaeological Conservation Center in Tucson, Arizona, and as the Objects Conservation Fellow at the Canadian Conservation Institute in Ottawa, Ontario. Megan received a BA in chemistry from Carleton College and an MA in Principles of Conservation, and an MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums from University College London.

Love, Courtship & Marriage
2023-08-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
We will cover the Language of Flowers, Fan Signals and Flirtation, and Marriage customs of the turn of the century. It was important for every young lady to be aware of these concealed messages; every young man should know how to interpret them.
Admission: Adults $10, Members $7, Children $5
Reserve your spot at https://bit.ly/love-courtship-marriage

NCHS at the Nicollet County Fair
2023-08-13 11:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-12 10:00 - 20:00 | Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 W. Union Street, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join us at the NCHS booth at the Nicollet County Fair for a fun and educational experience! From August 10 to August 13, the Ag Education Building (Quonset) will be filled with hands-on farm items for kids to play with. They can interact with real farm tools and equipment, gaining a greater appreciation for the hard work of farmers. It’s a fantastic opportunity for children to learn about farming while having a great time.
Our team will be there throughout the fair, ready to provide information about the Nicollet County Historical Society.
Don’t miss out! Come to the Ag Education Building during the Nicollet County Fair to inspire a passion for farming, spark curiosity, and cultivate knowledge. We can’t wait to see you there!
