Nicollet County Historical Society

SHADOWS AT THE CROSSING: SPIRITS OF OLD TRAVERSE DES SIOUX
2023-10-06 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | 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 >>
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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.

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, 2023-08-11 10:00 - 20:00, 2023-08-10 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!

Changing Times: The Cox Daughters and the Progressive Era
2023-07-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
The program will include everything from fashion, prohibition, and flappers, and the politics of the time, etc. The younger Cox girls made history on the cusp of the changing roles for women. Adults are $10, and Members and children 17 and under are free. For more info or to make a reservation, contact cox@nchsmn.org.

Free Family Friday
2023-07-14 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.
As a bonus, we have a special afternoon program – Snakes of the Minnesota River with Tom Jessen. From 1 PM to 4 PM, snake expert Tom Jessen will bring a variety of snakes from the Minnesota River Valley for visitors to see, handle, and learn about.

Plus – get a FREE root beer float between 11 AM-2 PM (while supplies last)

Past Pastimes
2023-06-17 13:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Enjoy a fun come-and-go day for the whole family with craft & skill demonstrations, children’s games with prizes, musical entertainment, and a tour of the historic Cox House.
Admission is $10 for Adults. Members and children under 17 are free.

Film Series | A Squirrel's Guide to Success
2023-05-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
The squirrel family, from tiny chipmunks to big prairie dogs, is one of the most widespread on Earth, so what is the secret to their success? There are almost 300 species of squirrels that can glide through the air, outwit rattlesnakes, and survive the coldest temperatures of any mammal. Uncover the extraordinary abilities of these cheeky nut lovers as a filmmaker puts their problem-solving to the test on a specially designed obstacle course. Join some of the world’s top squirrel scientists who are making groundbreaking discoveries – from the brainy fox squirrel who can remember the location of 9,000 nuts, to the acrobatic gray squirrel whose tree-top leaps are the basis of new designs in robotics. And see the world through the eyes of an orphan red squirrel called Billy, as he grows up and develops all the skills he will need to be released back to the wild.
Runtime is 60 minutes.

The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fourteenth season of documentary films! These documentaries inform, challenge ideas, and create conversation. Films are shown at the Treaty Site History Center and are free to the public.
The 2022-23 Films on First Thursdays Documentary Films Series is generously sponsored by the William R. Witty American Legion Post 37.
*** Please note the new time.

NCHS 2022 Annual Meeting
2023-03-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
NCHS Annual Meeting
Doors open at 1:00 PM
Business Meeting starts at 1:30 PM
Program to follow
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Special Guest Speaker
Steve Ketcham
Throughout the Nineteenth Century, the sale of spurious medicines to the American public was a booming business. Snake oil salesmen, quacks, mountebanks – call them what you will – preyed on a gullible public, many of whom were hoping for a miracle cure. Millions of dollars were made selling products bearing names such as Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root, Kidney, Liver, and Bladder Cure; Radam’s Microbe Killer; and Hood’s Sarsaparilla. Minnesota was no exception, and dozens of would-be doctors and druggists pawned off a huge number of questionable medicines until the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 began to slow the flow of injurious and useless medicines. We will explore both the local and the national patent medicine industry during our visit to yesterday’s medicine cabinet. Numerous examples of period bottles and advertising will be shared.
Steve Ketcham is a retired language arts teacher who has spent the last 50-plus years collecting antique bottles, stoneware, and related advertising. He has served numerous terms as president of the North Star Historical Bottle Association. In addition, he has served as president and board member of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, a national bottle-collecting organization.
The meeting is open to the public. There is no cost to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
Please note: The 2022 Annual Report will be available in digital format on our website. Physical copies will be printed by request. Please call 507-934-2160 to request a physical copy of the report by March 31, 2023.
Download the meeting packet.

Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program
2023-03-01 06:00 - 2023-03-31 22:00 | St. Peter Hy-Vee, 1002 Old Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
The Nicollet County Historical Society has been selected to benefit from Hy-Vee’s Reusable Bag Program, which makes it easy for customers to contribute to their local communities.
For the months of March and April, whenever a $2.50 “My Heart” Reusable Bag is purchased at the St. Peter Hy-Vee, $1 will be donated to NCHS. Our goal is to sell 100 bags, equivalent to $100 raised. We are confident that we can reach this goal with the help of our dedicated members and supporters.
The “My Heart” Reusable Bags are displayed around the store and at the checkout.
Support local history and the environment by purchasing a reusable bag today!

Super Snow Saturday
2023-02-04 10:00 - 17:30 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Free Family Day
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Visit the museum for FREE! You’ll find lots of fun things to do at Super Snow Saturday. Bring the kids for fun activities, including a scavenger hunt, make-and-take craft, and a movie!

Kids movie
4:00-5:30 pm
Wear your comfiest clothes, bring your tastiest snacks, and unravel this big myth-understanding.
Part of the fun is guessing the title of our film! We’ll drop clues on our Facebook page every day at noon starting 1/29. Don’t ruin the fun for others. Instead, send your guess through a private message. If you’re correct, we’ll add your child’s name to a mystery prize drawing. Must be present at the movie to win.

The movie is sponsored by the William R. Witty American Legion Post 37.

Family Day
2022-12-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
All the good little children are invited to the Cox House to experience a late 1800s Victorian Christmas.
The day will focus on storytelling and exploring traditional children’s gifts and games of the late 1800s. Plus, enjoy traditional Christmas treats. Activities begin on the hour at 1, 2, and 3 pm.
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for members, and $5 for children 5-17. Purchase advance tickets on our website or at the door on the day of the event.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Please contact the Nicollet County Historical Society at 507-934-2160 or cox@nchsmn.org with questions.

Cox House Christmas
2022-12-17 13:00 - 16:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Spend the afternoon exploring the Cox House at your own pace. The house is lavishly decorated for Christmas in true Victorian style. At the close of your visit, enjoy light refreshments.
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for members, and $5 for children 5-17. Purchase advance tickets on our website or at the door on the day of the event.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Please contact the Nicollet County Historical Society at 507-934-2160 or cox@nchsmn.org with questions.

Christmas by Candlelight
2022-12-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Guests of the Cox family can take their time to explore the beautifully decorated home and immerse themselves in Victorian Christmas splendor by candlelight.
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for members, and $5 for children 5-17. Purchase advance tickets on our website or at the door on the day of the event.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Please contact the Nicollet County Historical Society at 507-934-2160 or cox@nchsmn.org with questions.

CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER
2022-11-29 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
NCHS offices and exhibits are closing at noon today due to inclement weather and deteriorating driving conditions.
If you need your history fix, explore our Facebook posts or explore our website.

(MEMBERS ONLY) Photo Day with Santa
2022-11-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Santa is visiting the Cox House before his busy season starts! NCHS members are invited to bring their families for photos with Santa. You will have 10 minutes with Santa to grab that perfect holiday snapshot. Bring your camera or phone. No photographer will be provided. Enjoy cookies and hot cider while you wait. Outdoor event.

(MEMBERS ONLY) Sam Haugdahl, the New Sweden Creamery, and World Champion Butter
2022-11-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
This is the story of one buttermaker, immigrant farmers to Nicollet County, and the prize at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair for the world’s best butter. NCHS members are welcome to join us for this program.
Not a member? Join today to enjoy all the benefits of membership, like this program!
About the presenter.
Karen Annexstad Humphrey grew up at Norseland-New Sweden, where she discovered her love of history at age eight when both communities and Minnesota celebrated their centennials. She is a past president of the Minnesota Historical Society and the Norwegian-American Historical Association. She currently serves on the boards of the Swedish American Historical Society and the National Lutheran Choir. Karen is the author of Grace, Faith, and the Power of Singing: The Alma Christina Lind Swensson Story; and Celebrating the Dassel Leikarring. An independent scholar, the Swedish-American Historical Quarterly has published three of her articles. Her article on Sam Haugdahl and the New Sweden Creamery was published in the Fall 2021 Minnesota History Magazine. Karen recently retired from the Minnesota Historical Society and is a consultant to the Norwegian-American Historical Association.

Give to the Max Day 2022
2022-11-17 | 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 17.
DONATE TODAY
Thank you for your continued support.

Teddy Roosevelt Live Parlor Talk
2022-11-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Theodore Roosevelt was a prolific reader, storyteller, and author. Learn about his early life as a child, from his days as a Deputy Sherrif, to charging up San Juan Hill. As the 26th President, learn about the ideology of Roosevelt and how each of us contributes to our shared country.
Learn more about Teddy Roosevelt Live
PURCHASE TICKETS

Roosevelt for President Campaign Party
2022-11-04 17:00 - 19:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Spend an entertaining evening at the beautiful E. St. Julien Cox House with Presidential hopeful Teddy Roosevelt. Enjoy punch and appetizers with your conversation. Tickets are $25.
PURCHASE TICKETS

Documentary Film Series | USO: For the Troops
2022-11-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
For 75 years, the United Service Organizations (USO) has lifted the spirits of American soldiers and has kept service personnel connected to their families and country while abroad. From its inception just prior to American involvement in World War II, the USO has remained steadfastly committed to its mission of increasing morale amongst our servicemen and women. USO: For the Troops conveys the fast pace and complex logistics of a modern USO tour, and underlines the importance of the organization not just for service people, but for America as a whole.
While some aspects of war have greatly changed, the need for connection, entertainment, and care within our armed forces has not. Interviews with past performers and celebrities are interspersed with moving first-person accounts from veterans and historians who discuss the USO’s mission and impact. By showcasing the horrors of war alongside the morale-building activities of the USO and its volunteers, this film creates a comprehensive view of the lasting impact of the USO and shares new insights into American culture and the realities American soldiers face while overseas.
Runtime is 60 min. This film is not rated.

The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fourteenth season of documentary films! These documentaries inform, challenge ideas, and create conversation. Films are shown at the Treaty Site History Center and are free to the public.
The 2022-23 Films on First Thursdays Documentary Films Series is generously sponsored by the William R. Witty American Legion Post 37.

Trick-or-Treat at the Cox House
2022-10-31 17:00 - 19:00 | Cox House, 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
Families are invited to come to trick-or-treat at the Cox House.

NCHS Board of Directors Meeting
2022-10-24 18:30 - 19:00, 2022-08-22 18:30 - 19:00 | 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.

Documentary Film Series | Dick Cavett's Watergate
2022-09-01 19:00 - 20:00 | Nicollet County Historical Society – Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, Saint Peter, MN, 56082, United States
As the Watergate scandal unfolded on TV and in the newspapers from 1972 to 1974, it had all the ingredients of high drama-gripping and all-consuming. Dick Cavett’s Watergate is an intensely personal, intimate, and entertaining look back at Watergate and the historic resignation of President Richard Milhous Nixon, the only U.S. president to resign the office.
Dick Cavett was at the forefront of national TV coverage, interviewing nearly every major Watergate figure as the crisis unfolded. With exclusive access to the archive of the show, Dick Cavett’s Watergate documents the scandal in the words of the people who lived it: the botched burglary at the Democratic National Headquarters, the must-see TV of the daily Congressional Watergate hearings, and the ongoing behind-the-scenes battle between the White House and The Dick Cavett Show.
Runtime is 55 min. Film not rated.

The Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community and Family Education present our fourteenth season of documentary films! These documentaries inform, challenge ideas, and create conversation. Films are shown at the Treaty Site History Center and are free to the public.
The 2022-23 Films on First Thursdays Documentary Films Series is generously sponsored by the William R. Witty American Legion Post 37.
