This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. It shows several dwellings of the Dakota people.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. It shows a view of the Minnesota River Valley.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. It shows a Dakota campsite along a body of water.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows Native Americans tapping trees and making sugar.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. Two Native American men on snowshoes are shown hunting buffalo.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. A Native American is shown as he is catching fish by using a bow and arrow.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows a medicine dance performed by members of the Winnebago tribe.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows a Native American activity in which a number of men are involved.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows Native Americans moving with their belongings to a new location.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows a mounted Native American man about to kill a buffalo with an arrow.
A map of a proposed community named Waheoka, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included. The community was apparently to be located in Nicollet County, with southern and eastern boundaries along the Minnesota River, apparently near St. Peter and Traverse des Sioux. Spring Lake, looking more like a small stream on the map, divided the community into an east section and a west section. Waheoka was surveyed by Z. Wise in 1854 for Lyman Leach and Monroe Wright.
The community of St. Peter was initially, and for a very brief time, known as Rock Bend, a name taken because of the presence of a sharp bend in the course of the Minnesota River on the east side of the settlement. The name was used probably from late in 1853 until sometime in 1854. The envelope shown here, addressed to Charles E. Flandrau (1828-1903), who was living in the area at the time, is one of only a few objects that survived with the name "Rock Bend" on it. Flandrau, himself, became a very prominent resident of the State of Minnesota. Among many other duties during his lifetime, he commanded the defenders of New Ulm in August of 1862 and later served on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Exterior view of the Mason and Boardman hardware store in St. Peter, which was located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Grace street. photograph E1393 shows the same "HARDWARE" sign.
A map showing the community of Eureka, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included. Eureka was located in Section 33, T109N, R28W of Nicollet County, Minnesota, and was surveyed by Daniel L. Turpin. This town did not survive the severe economic downturn that began in 1857 that affected the entire United States and the Territory of Minnesota. It can now be regarded as part of Lost Minnesota.
This map shows the village of Traverse des Sioux along the Minnesota River. The village was named after the Traverse des Sioux, which was the French name for the crossing site of the river by the Dakota people who lived in the vicintiy.
A map showing the community variously known as Dakota, Dakota City, or Dakota Mills, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included, as is a building labeled as McNutt's Dakota Mills. The community was located in Section 34, T109N, R28W in Nicollet County, and was "surveyed in 1856, drawn by Anthony D. McSweeney" for William H. McNutt, who is listed as the proprietor. This town did not survive the severe economic downturn that began in 1857 that affected the entire United States and the Territory of Minnesota. It can now be regarded as part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the community of Redstone City, including streets, lots, and blocks. The town was located in Section 1, T109N, R30W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Frederick Leavenworth was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for proprietor Daniel Lothrop, Jr. Like its neighboring community of Redstone, Redstone City gradually faded away as a community, and can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the community of Redstone, including streets, blocks, and lots. Redstone was located in Section 35, T110N, R30W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Frederick Leavenworth was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for Marshall B. Stone and other occupants and proprietors. Redstone faded away as a community in which to live, and can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the community of Swan City, including streets, blocks, and lots. It was located in Sections 5 and 8, T109N, R28W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Wm. G. Wells was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for proprietor Thomas Gunn. Swan City appears on a map of Minnesota dated 1866, but probably did not survive for very many years beyond that date. It can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing Union City, including streets, blocks, and lots. The town was located, or was to have been located, in Section 4, T109N, R28W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Wm. G. Wells was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for Thomas Gunn, one of the proprietors. Very little is known about Union City, which has not survived. It can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
This document contains the text of a bill that was passed by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1857 to transfer the capital of Minnesota from St. Paul to St. Peter. This document has been determined to have been written at that time, but it is most likely a working copy of the document that was passed by the legislature. Joseph Rolette, a member of the legislature who was opposed to the transfer of the capitol, disappeared with the original bill and failed to return it in time for it to be properly signed by Territorial Governor Willis Gorman, who had, in the meantime, signed a copy of the document that Rolette had taken. Governor Gorman's action was declared to be illegal by a Judge R. R. Nelson, thus ending the attempt to move the capitol.
The St. Peter Company, which helped to promote and establish the community of St. Peter, conveyed to the town's residents through this document the land for a large park. The park is known as Gorman Park, and was named after Territorial Governor Willis A. Gorman, who was a member of the St. Peter Company. The document is dated January 6th, 1857.
Minnesota's second Territorial Governor, Willis A. Gorman, signed this document that appointed William B. Dodd, one of the founders of St. Peter, as a Brigadier General of the First Brigade of the Second Division of the Militia of Minnesota Territory on February 20th, 1857.
Samuel Medary, the third Territorial Governor of Minnesota, signed this document appointing A.P. Buell as a Notary Public in the Territory of Minnesota on the 21st of August in 1857. The document states that Buell was a resident of Le Sueur County at the time.
A map showing the community of McQuiston's Addition to Le Hillier City, including streets, lots, and blocks. The Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers are included. The town was to be located in Section 14, T108N, R27W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Surveyor C. A. Chapman certified the plat of the proposed community in June of 1858. This town did not survive the severe economic downturn that began in 1857 that affected the entire United States and the Territory of Minnesota. It can now be regarded as part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the proposed community of Washington, Minnesota Territory, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included. Washington was to be located in Section 4, T110N, R26W in Nicollet County, Minnesota. It was surveyed by Chas. Snyder in 1858. The Minnesota River would have been at the southeastern corner of the community, and the southern boundary would have bordered a proposed canal that would have entered the river.
This photograph shows the Land Office building in St. Peter. The Land Office was located in St. Peter from 1858 until 1870 in several locations. The building shown in this photograph appears to be on the east side of Minnesota Avenue.
Exterior view of Carl Deutschmann's grocery store in St. Peter, which was located on the east side of South Minnesota Avenue on the southern half of the 200 block.
A view to the north along Minnesota Avenue from a location at the intersection with Grace street. At far right is the building that housed the offices of the St. Peter Herald in 2005.
Exterior view of the G. W. Steinke wagon shop in St. Peter. It was located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Broadway.
Exterior view of the Krueger Hotel in St. Peter, which was located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Fifth street and Broadway. The hotel was operated by Mr. and Mrs. William Krueger. It was also called the Pink Hotel.
This photograph shows St. Peter Civil War veteran William B. Stone in his uniform. He served as a sergeant in Company H of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Sergeant Stone died in St. Louis in 1862.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran James Magner. He served as a captain in Company I of the 28th Massachusetts Regiment. On May 18, 1864 Magner was killed during the battle of Spotsylvania.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran James Magner. He served as a captain in Company I of the 28th Massachusetts Regiment. On May 18, 1864 Magner was killed during the battle of Spotsylvania.
This photograph shows Civil War Capt. Asgrim K. Skaro, who was killed in the battle of Nashville in 1864. Skaro served in the Second and the Ninth Minnesota Infantry Regiments. He was one of the founders of St. Peter in Nicollet County in 1853.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran Andrew Anderson, who lived in Granby Township, near Swan Lake. Anderson rose to the rank of corporal in Company H of the Fourth Minnesota Regiment, serving for nearly four years.
Portrait of Lt. Matthew F. Magner, a member of Company F of the 43rd Battalion of the Virginia Cavalry. This unit served with Mosby's Rangers in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The Magner family settled in Nicollet County prior to the war.