Shadows at the Crossing Returns to the Prairie at Traverse des Sioux
Long before Minnesota was a state, Traverse des Sioux was a river crossing, a gathering place for the Dakota, and the site of the 1851 Treaty. Today, little remains of the town, but Shadows at the Crossing brings its layered history to life. The Nicollet County Historical Society (NCHS) invites the public to experience the site during an immersive guided tour, running October 2 and 3, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Guided by lantern light, visitors walk the prairie trail and meet costumed interpreters portraying real people connected to this place. At each of six stops, a figure from the region’s past shares their story in first person, offering a glimpse into the choices, challenges, and resilience that shaped the Minnesota Territory. This year’s figures include explorer Joseph Nicollet, fur trader Louis Provencalle, missionary Jane Williamson, Governor John A. Johnson, Jennie Pettijohn-Tyler, and Nancy McClure.
A guide leads each tour, and it lasts 60 to 65 minutes. Daylight tours (6 to 6:30 p.m.) emphasize the site’s landscape, while twilight and evening tours (6:45 p.m. and later) offer a more atmospheric experience.
Tickets
● $12 for adults
● $10 for seniors (55+), and
● $5 for youth ages 12 to 17.
Nicollet County and Minnesota Historical Societies members receive 20% off admission by entering code MEMBERS20% when booking.
Tickets are available at https://www.nchsmn.org/series/shadows-at-the-crossing.
About the Nicollet County Historical Society
The Nicollet County Historical Society preserves and shares Nicollet County’s history through its exhibits, collections, and programs at two properties: the Treaty Site History Center and the E. St. Julien Cox House, both in Saint Peter.
