National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center
Commemorating Controversy: The Dakota—U.S. War of 1862
January 11, 2014 – June 1, 2014
Explore the causes and consequences of the conflict that raged between Dakota akicitas (warriors) and the U.S. military and settlers in southern Minnesota in 1862. The war left hundreds dead and thousands more homeless. On December 26, 1862, 38 Dakota men were hung in Mankato, Minnesota, by order of President Abraham Lincoln; this remains the largest mass execution in United States history. The bloodshed of 1862 and its aftermath left deep wounds that have yet to heal. What happened 150 years ago continues to matter today.
