Camp Release State Memorial Wayside: 337
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Dakota Surrender Site — Where 269 Dakota people surrendered in 1862, ending the U.S.-Dakota War
Camp Release State Memorial Wayside marks the site where 269 Dakota people surrendered to Colonel Henry Sibley on September 26, 1862, and released 269 captives taken during the U.S.-Dakota War. The 337-acre site on the south shore of Lac qui Parle includes a granite monument and interpretive panels. After the surrender, the Dakota were marched to a concentration camp at Fort Snelling, where hundreds died during the winter of 1862-63. Camp Release is a place of deep historical significance — commemorating both the end of the conflict and the beginning of the Dakota people’s forced exile from their homeland.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Lac qui Parle County, MN |
| Size | 337 acres |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Date | September 26, 1862 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened after the surrender?
After Camp Release, 1,700 Dakota were marched to Fort Snelling, where they were held in a concentration camp through the brutal winter. Hundreds died of disease and exposure. In 1863, survivors were exiled to reservations in Dakota Territory and Nebraska.
What caused the US-Dakota War?
Broken treaty promises left the Dakota people starving — the US government failed to deliver promised food and payments while settlers occupied Dakota land. When a government trader reportedly said “let them eat grass,” desperation turned to violence. The six-week war killed hundreds on both sides and resulted in the forced removal of all Dakota from Minnesota.
Make it a road trip: Pair a visit with Lac Qui Parle State Park (a short drive away) or Watson State Wayside: 136 (a short drive away).
🪶 Visit Camp Release Memorial
1862 surrender site — end of the U.S.-Dakota War and beginning of exile.
About Camp Release
Camp Release State Memorial Wayside in Lac qui Parle County marks where 269 white and mixed-race captives were released by Dakota leaders on September 26, 1862 — ending the captivity phase of the U.S.-Dakota War. Some Dakota risked their lives to protect captives from those who wanted to continue fighting. The site overlooks the Minnesota River valley.
Things to Do
Visiting the memorial monument, reading interpretive panels on the U.S.-Dakota War’s conclusion, reflecting on the complex history of the conflict, and viewing the Minnesota River valley landscape.
Insider Tips
US-Dakota War: Camp Release marks where 269 white and mixed-race captives were released at the end of the US-Dakota War of 1862 — one of the most traumatic events in Minnesota history. Pro tip: The war resulted in the largest mass execution in US history — 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato on December 26, 1862. Context: Understanding this history requires acknowledging both settler and Dakota perspectives — broken treaties and starvation drove the conflict.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round: Memorial site — reflective visit. Fall: Minnesota River Valley color. Summer: Full context with nearby historic sites. December 26: Annual memorial ceremony in Mankato.
Wildlife & Nature
Camp Release — marks the site where 269 captives were released at the end of the 1862 Dakota War. The park’s restored prairie and river bottomland support bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and meadowlarks. White-tailed deer browse the edges. Ring-necked pheasants flush from the grass.
Nearby Attractions
Montevideo — adjacent — has the Chippewa County Museum. Lac qui Parle SP — 10 miles north — has the historic mission site and waterfowl migration. Upper Sioux Agency SP — 15 miles southeast.
