Traverse des Sioux State Park

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamMay 8, 2026 · Updated October 8, 2026

🏆 Treaty That Created Minnesota — Site of the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux that opened southern Minnesota to settlement

Traverse des Sioux State Park preserves the site of the historic 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux — the single most consequential treaty in Minnesota history. Here, the Dakota people ceded 24 million acres of southern Minnesota to the U.S. government for $1,665,000 in annuity payments — approximately 7 cents per acre. The treaty opened southern Minnesota to Euro-American settlement and led directly to statehood in 1858. Within 11 years, broken treaty promises would ignite the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The 29-acre site includes the treaty ground, interpretive center, and the original river crossing (“traverse”) on the Minnesota River.

Visitor Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the treaty fair?

By any measure, no. The Dakota ceded 24 million acres for $1.665 million — and much of that money went to traders to settle debts rather than to the Dakota people. The broken promises of this treaty were a direct cause of the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War.

About Traverse des Sioux

Traverse des Sioux State Park in Nicollet County preserves the site of the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux — a pivotal and controversial treaty where Dakota leaders ceded 24 million acres of southern Minnesota to the United States. The treaty, signed under duress, contributed to the tensions that erupted in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

Things to Do

Visiting the treaty site and interpretive center, walking the grounds where the 1851 treaty was signed, viewing the Minnesota River valley, and reflecting on the treaties that shaped Minnesota’s history and their devastating impact on the Dakota people.

Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Minnesota River State Trail (a short drive away) and Minneopa State Park (a short drive away).

Wildlife & Nature

Traverse des Sioux — preserves the site of the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, where the Dakota ceded 24 million acres of land. The park’s Minnesota River bottomland and prairie support bald eagles, white pelicans, and white-tailed deer. Sandhill cranes frequent the marsh.

Nearby Attractions

St. Peter — adjacent — has Gustavus Adolphus College. Mankato — 10 miles south. Fort Ridgely SP — 30 miles northwest. Minnesota River valley — surrounding.

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to state parks and other public lands in the United States. Our editorial team compiles park profiles from official agency and operator sources and other identified references, and follows our published editorial policy and review methodology. Where a profile shows a source-check date, that date applies to the detail it names. We correct errors when we find them or when readers report them.

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