Reconciliation On 150th Anniversary Of U.S.-Dakota War
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnesota's flags are flying at half-staff this Friday by order of Gov. Mark Dayton, part of Remembrance and Reconciliation Day marking the U.S.-Dakota War 150 years ago.
Hundreds of settlers were killed in the six-week war and 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato as a result.
The Minnesota History Center has compiled a special exhibit on the state's darkest chapter, and director Kate Roberts says there's a lot of interest.
The history center had its biggest July attendance ever.
"Probably the main thing that we hear people say is 'I didn't know. Why didn't I learn this in history class? In grade school? In high school? In college? Why wasn't this covered?'" said Roberts.
Podcast
Dayton's proclamation also repudiates the call in 1862 by Minnesota's first governor, Alexander Ramsey, for the "extermination" of the Sioux Indians.