Jackson County Historical Society - MN

08/17/2026

Hey, that's us!

Go to Minnesota Digital Library and take a look at some of our historic photos! We also promise to not get jealous if you look at things from other counties while you're there.

Today, we are visiting Jackson County in southwestern Minnesota. This county was established in 1857 before Minnesota became a state. The territorial legislature named it after St. Paul’s first merchant and an early founder, Henry Jackson. However, some claimed it was also named in honor of President Andrew Jackson. Its government was organized in 1866 with the county seat located in Jackson, formerly known as Springfield.

Jackson photographer H. F. Strom took this picture of the city from Thomas Hill, on the east side of the Des Moines River. His photograph shows a water tower, courthouse, churches, businesses, houses, and a new school building. Explore more counties in MDL’s regional map collection at z.umn.edu/MDLRegionalMaps.

Image: City view, Jackson, 1895-1900. Jackson County Historical Society - MN, https://collection.mndigital.org/catalog/jch:6

08/14/2026

The Jackson County Historical Society will be closed today, August 14. See you on Monday!

08/01/2026

For those of you who could not attend our annual meeting this January and hear Russ speak, you have not one, but TWO opportunities this Wednesday in Worthington! Russ gives an entertaining and thorough program about the James-Younger Gang's failed bank robbery in Northfield and ensuing manhunt!

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT!

07/27/2026

It's county fair week! Come visit us at the church, cabin, and schoolhouse at the fairgrounds! The museum will be closed until next Monday, August 3.

We have two great presentations or "history lessons" lined up during the county fair! Thursday, we will discuss the life of Lewis Thomas, Jackson County's first known black inhabitant. On Friday, we will examine the role of a controversial crop in Jackson County's history. Both history lessons are at 11:00 in the church. You will not want to miss these!

07/23/2026

Today is the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, which opened Southwest Minnesota (including present-day Jackson County) to settlement.

On July 23, 1851, US government officials and Sisítuƞwaƞ and Waḣpétuƞwaƞ Daḳóta representatives signed the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, after several weeks of treaty negotiations with more than 1,000 Daḳóta Oyáte (people) gathered around Oíyuweġe (a Daḳóta term for ford/crossing).

The treaty had three primary results: First, it ceded much of the southern and western portion of Minnesota to the US for about seven and a half cents an acre. Second, Daḳóta people retained a reservation of land ten miles wide on each side of the Minnesota River. The treaty said nothing about rights to hunt and harvest outside the reservation's boundaries. This caused tensions when the US government fell short on its promise to provide food for Daḳóta people.

Finally, the treaty arranged for payment to the Sisítuƞwaƞ and Waḣpétuƞwaƞ bands for the land they had ceded. Unbeknownst to Daḳóta Itaƞc̣aƞ (leaders), an illegal addendum was added to the treaty, a document known as the “traders papers” that forfeited more than a third of the Daḳóta cash payments to a group of traders, including Henry Sibley and his associates.

Many of the Daḳóta leaders felt deceived by the treaty and its process. Added to the failed promises of earlier treaties, the misdirection over the traders papers further eroded trust in the government's word. Mdewákaƞtuƞwaƞ and Waḣpékute bands signed a similar treaty twelve days later. The pattern of deceit and failed promises laid the groundwork for the US-Dakota War of 1862.

Image: Traverse des Sioux treaty marker. Approximately 1950. Minnesota Historical Society. Saint Paul, MN.

06/18/2026

In observance of Juneteenth, the Jackson County Historical Society will be closed tomorrow, June 19.

We will have special open hours on Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 to 2:00. Come stop by before the Summerfest parade!

06/18/2026

The reports that we have homemade ice cream at the museum tonight are true.

So come on down to your friendly local historical society for a sweet treat, pass through the museum, and see what we've been up to!