U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 Sesquicentennial

The Minnesota Historical Society will raise awareness of the significance of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 by communicating the experiences of people before, during and after the war.

Programs and resources related to the commemoration of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 include:

• U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 Website--An interactive web site will tell stories of the war and its aftermath through oral histories, photos, journals, letters, newspapers, government documents and other primary resources. The site will also provide resources for classroom use.
• Oral History Project--Society staff are collecting oral histories from descendants of those touched by the war. Full transcipts and audio versions will be available to the public online.
• Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byways Mobile Tour--A media-rich cell phone tour of significant places along the Minnesota River Valley. The tour will also be available online. Society staff leveraged $46,800 in ACHF funding to secure $183,000 for the mobile tour from the National Scenic Byways Discretionary Grants Program administered by the Federal Highway Administration.
• Art Exhibit--Contemporary American Indian artists will show works related to the war. The exhibit will open at All My Relations Art Gallery and later move to the James J. Hill House.
• Legalities Exhibit--William Mitchell College of Law and the Society will collaborate on an exhibit focusing on treaties and legal matters related to the war. It will open in fall 2012.
• Children’s Photo Project--Young people, including children of Dakota heritage, will use cameras to produce “day in the life” images for use online and/or in publications.