MNHS sites and museums temporarily closed

For the continued safety of our staff and visitors, and in accordance with Governor Walz's executive order, MNHS sites and museums will temporarily close effective Sat., Nov 21.

The Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society will be available for Gift Shop orders by calling our museum at (507) 794-5053. We still have many Sleepy Eye Mill mugs, Christmas bulbs, T-Shirts, Boos, and many misc items you may want to purchase for Christmas yet, as Christmas is right around the corner.

As Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society was normally planning on being closed anyway for its 2020 Season this coming Saturday, we will be around behind doors this winter Wednesday - Friday. If you still need that extra special gift, maybe you want it for someone special or maybe even for yourself! You can either call (507) 794-5053 or email (semuseum@sleepyeyetel.net) ahead of time to make arraignments to pick up your items.

Chief Sleepy Eye Monument

The monument is a graceful shaft of Ortonville granite, 43 feet high on a base 10 1/2 by 10 1/2 feet.  The construction of this memorial has been let to the Sullivan Monument Company, of Minneapolis, and the cost will be $2,500.00. Just above the base of the shaft will be an inscription reading as follows:  "Ish-tak-ha-ba (Sleepy Eye) Always a friend of the whites.”

This monument stands in a little park at the east end of the depot grounds and will always remain a reminder of a famous Indian whose good deeds will be familiar to the generations who are to come. The bones of the chief will be entombed in the foundation of the monument. Dedicated October 17th, 1902.