The Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway is not just a fertile farming region overflowing with rolling hills, lush forests, and sparkling rivers-- it is also rich in American history. Come visit the historical sites of the Dakota Conflict along the Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway, where treaties were broken and nations fought against nations.
Begin your historical journey by driving along the byway where history is abundant and relics dot the landscape. See part of the millions of acres of golden farmland that the Dakota Indians sold in exchange for payments of food and a small section of land. Come visit the Lower Sioux Agency History Center near Morton, Minnesota, where you’ll learn about the history and culture of the Dakota. Understand their struggle to preserve their identity while adapting to a rapidly changing world. Learn how government employees and missionaries sought to change their traditional way of life and discover the roots of the US/Dakota Conflict at the Lower Sioux Agency History Center.
Continue down the byway to Fort Ridgely State Park Historic Site. Wander through the ruins of this once thriving outpost, where US and Dakota skirmishes occurred nearly 150 years ago. Built in 1853 without a protective outer wall, Fort Ridgely was intended to serve as a "police station" between the line of settlement and the Dakota reservations along the upper Minnesota River. A staging ground for Civil War volunteers, Fort Ridgely was attacked twice during the U.S./Dakota Conflict of 1862. Now you can tour the restored commissary building, which houses audio-visual programs, exhibits, and a gift shop.
Make your way down to Mankato, Minnesota to see the Winter Warrior Sculpture outside the Mankato Public Library. Explore the place where 38 captured Dakota braves were hung in what remains the largest mass execution in American history.
Visit the Joseph R. Brown State Wayside Rest site, where granite ruins show the immense carnage of war. Joseph Brown was a politician, inventor, publisher, and Indian Agent whose home was destroyed in one of the many conflicts of 1862. Despite the desolation of his three-story mansion, his family was fortuitously spared due to his wife’s Native American descent.
Complete your US/Dakota Conflicts tour with a visit to the Camp Release Monument just outside of Montevideo, Minnesota. The Camp Release Monument was dedicated on July 4, 1894 to commemorate the release of 269 captives and the surrender of about 1200 Dakota people at the end of the conflict. The faces of the 51-foot granite monument are inscribed with hieroglyphs about the battles that took place, the Dakota's surrender, and the creation of the monument.
From the massive golden fields to the one hundred and fifty-year-old old ruins, the Minnesota River Valley is overflowing with authentic sites, fascinating relics, and riveting stories for everyone. Come learn about American history, and experience the captivating historical sites for yourself along the Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway.
