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TREATY SITE HISTORY CENTER
    Nicollet County Historical Society > VISIT > TREATY SITE HISTORY CENTER

Explore Nicollet County’s history at the Treaty Site History Center. Learn about the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and its lasting consequences for the Dakota people, alongside stories of the people and communities connected to this place.

Discover more through changing exhibits, browse the gift shop, or visit the research library to explore your own connections to Nicollet County’s past.

Know Before You Go

Hours & Seasonal Closures

Regular Hours
Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Winter Hours · November 3, 2026–February 28, 2027
Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Winter Break Closure · December 21, 2026–January 12, 2027
The History Center will be closed. We reopen Wednesday, January 13, with winter hours.

EXHIBITS

  • A pencil sketch depicts an old log house with a thatched roof and some missing planks. A wooden cart leans against the house. The image includes a signature reading "J.B. Mayer" and text that says "Trading house - interior lod burner.

    Sketches of Frank Blackwell Mayer

    In 1851, 23-year-old Baltimore native Frank Blackwell Mayer embarked on a 5,903-mile journey to document the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, recording the lives of…

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  • Nicollet County Room

    Explore the Nicollet County Room, featuring displays and history from each of the 13 townships.

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  • Ridgely Panoramic

    Fort Ridgely

    Although only open for fourteen years, Fort Ridgely drastically impacted the State of Minnesota and the American frontier. Through its short tenure as a military…

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  • A museum exhibit room featuring various informational displays, text panels, and artifacts. There are silhouette cutouts of people, a wooden canoe, and mounted items such as rifles. The room is lit with subdued lighting, creating an educational and immersive atmosphere.

    1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux

    The Treaty Site History Center’s permanent exhibit interprets the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux as a watershed moment in Minnesota history. The consequences for…

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Attending as a Group?

Perfect for field trips, professional organizations, community groups, and more, guided tours offer a lasting impact.

A group of people sit in rows of chairs at the Nicollet County Historical Society Treaty Site History Center, watching a projected black-and-white image of a person in a feathered headdress with the text “TO MOVE THEIR VILLAGES” in a dimly lit room adorned with art on the walls.
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