Nicollet County Historical Society

Community Affairs on KNUJ Radio
2025-09-23 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-10-28 09:15 - 21:35, 2025-11-25 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-01-27 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-02-24 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-03-24 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-04-28 09:15 - 21:35, 2026-05-26 09:15 - 21:35 (America/Chicago) | 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.
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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.

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!

Closed for Winter Break
2025-12-21 - 2026-01-05 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Our offices and sites are closed for winter break from December 21, 2025, through January 5, 2026. Regular hours resume on January 6, 2026.

Viewers Like Us Club | Art + Medicine
2026-02-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join Twin Cities PBS, the Nicollet County Historical Society, and Saint Peter Community & Family Education at the Viewers Like Us Club. Watch award-winning PBS programs with your neighbors. Share conversations while exploring topics like Minnesota history, food, and culture. Free and open to all!
Art + Medicine: Disability, Culture and Creativity
Artists and healthcare clinicians create alternative perspectives on disability, through disability, stories and performances, and redefine what we perceive as normal. Hosted by artist and storyteller Kevin Kling, Professor Jessica Horvath Williams, PhD, and Doctor Tsegaensh Selameab. Created in collaboration with the Center for the Art of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Topics include:
♣ Disability and accessibility
♣ Art and creativity
♣ Storytelling and performance

hiSTORY hangout
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-19 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 free 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!

Board of Directors meeting
2026-02-23 16:30 - 18:00, 2026-04-27 16:30 - 18:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Nicollet County Historical Society Board of Directors meeting. Materials can be accessed at the meeting or upon request.

Viewers Like Us Club | Hope in the Struggle
2026-03-05 14:00 - 15:30 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join Twin Cities PBS, the Nicollet County Historical Society, and Saint Peter Community & Family Education at the Viewers Like Us Club. Watch award-winning PBS programs with your neighbors. Share conversations as you explore topics like Minnesota history, food, and culture. Free and open to all!
Hope in the Struggle: The Josie Johnson Story
A reflection on the life of freedom fighter and civic leader Dr. Josie Johnson, who fought for fair housing, education, and civil rights. Hear in her own words how her experiences turned her to activism, what action looks like, and how the next generation is taking up the mantle. The struggle for justice and equality continues, but there is hope in the struggle.
Topics include:

Minnesota history
Civil rights
Education

Annual Meeting
2026-03-30 17:00 - 19:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
The annual business meeting will be held on Monday, March 30, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. There is no cost to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

5:00 p.m. – Doors open
5:30 p.m. – Business meeting
6:00 p.m. – Program

About our program and speaker:

Join Stephanie Hess for an engaging overview of the Minnesota Digital Library (MDL), a free website full of digitized historical materials from contributors across the state. For over twenty years, MDL has partnered with organizations like the Nicollet County Historical Society to digitize their collections and make them accessible online. In this presentation, Stephanie will demonstrate how to search MDL’s collection of over 61,000 unique photographs, documents, maps, A/V recordings, and more. She will explore some of MDL’s creative projects and share highlights of unique Nicollet County history that can be found in MDL.
Stephanie is the Digital Curator for the Minnesota Digital Library. With a background in local history and exhibit development, she oversees the digital storytelling projects for MDL, conducts K12 educational outreach, and manages MDL’s social media accounts. The Minnesota Digital Library is made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Viewers Like Us Club | Broadcast Wars
2026-04-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join Twin Cities PBS, the Nicollet County Historical Society, and Saint Peter Community & Family Education at the Viewers Like Us Club. Watch award-winning PBS programs with your neighbors. Share conversations as you explore topics like Minnesota history, food, and culture. Free and open to all!
Broadcast Wars
There was a time when people would stop what they were doing and watch the local evening news. Twin Cities PBS’s Broadcast Wars, co-produced with Cathy Wurzer, takes us back a half-century to the era when ratings battles were fierce, women and people of color were making their presence known, technology was rapidly evolving, and local TV news was as vital as it was entertaining.
Topics include:
♣ Minnesota history
♣ Broadcast television and media
♣ Technology

hiSTORY hangout
2026-04-16 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 hiSTORY hangout 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.

Viewers Like Us Club | America Outdoors: Minnesota
2026-05-07 14:00 - 15:30 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Join Twin Cities PBS, the Nicollet County Historical Society, and Saint Peter Community & Family Education at the Viewers Like Us Club. Watch award-winning PBS programs with your neighbors. Share conversations as you explore topics like Minnesota history, food, and culture. Free and open to all!
America Outdoors: Minnesota
What does the wild mean to Americans today? To find out, Baratunde journeys into Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region, one of the last places where you can hike or paddle your way into the remote wilderness. From passionate birders to harvesters of wild rice, he encounters a fascinating cast of characters—and hears from them why wilderness means so much.
Topics include:
♣ Minnesota geography
♣ Outdoor activities
♣ Climate change

More Than Money: Planning for Your Legacy & Your Family Treasures
2026-05-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
*** Space is limited to 35 participants. Advance reservations are required.
History isn’t just about the past; it’s about the foundation we leave for those who follow. You’ve spent a lifetime collecting stories, photos, and heirlooms. What happens to them next?
Join NCHS and attorney Jared Koch of Blethen Berens for a unique seminar that balances financial stewardship with historical preservation, ensuring your legacy is protected for generations to learn from.
Learn how to create an estate plan that protects your family’s financial future while also ensuring that your “treasures,” from 19th-century letters to local business records, are properly preserved and that your executor understands their value and your intentions.
What you’ll learn:

Best legal practices for donating historical documents, photos, family heirlooms, or artifacts so they remain within the community
How to ensure generational property is transitioned thoughtfully and what to consider before donating
The tax-saving benefits of naming a nonprofit as a beneficiary
How to include the Nicollet County Historical Society or another nonprofit in your will or trust without affecting your current lifestyle

About the PresenterJared Koch is an attorney with Blethen Berens, where he focuses on estate planning, probate, and incapacity planning. He works closely with individuals and families to create tailored estate plans and to guide them through complex decisions with clarity and care. He also assists clients with guardianship and conservatorship matters, helping ensure long-term support and protection for loved ones.
Learn more about Jared and his practice:https://www.blethenberens.com/staff/jared-koch

hiSTORY hangout
2026-05-21 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
2026-06-06 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.
