Nicollet County Historical Society

10/28/2026

See poster for symposium details.

Mark your calendars. Event and contact info on the poster.

10/28/2026

Dim halls. Unblinking eyes. They’ve been waiting for you.

Explore a collection of unsettling dolls inside the dimly lit Cox House on Halloween, October 31, from 6:30–8 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for members, and $5 for youth. Cash or card at the door. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Plan your stop: https://www.nchsmn.org/event/dolls-of-the-dark-5/

10/27/2026

Due to a staffing shortage, we’ll be closing at 3:30 PM today. We apologize for any inconvenience.

10/27/2026

We are sorry, but the Archives and Research Center is closed today. We hope to resume research appointments tomorrow. Please call ahead at 507-934-2160.

10/26/2026

Make the Cox House a stop on your Halloween route! 🎃 Families are invited to stop by for trick-or-treating on October 31 from 5–6:30 p.m.

📍 500 N. Washington Avenue, Saint Peter
We’ll be handing out treats, but house tours won’t be offered during trick-or-treating.

Details: https://www.nchsmn.org/event/trick-or-treat-at-the-cox-house-2026/

10/23/2026

The Treaty Site History Center’s seasonal hours begin in November. Through February, we’ll be open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and closed Sunday–Tuesday.

Keep these hours handy when planning your visit.

10/22/2026

Fascinating!

“Don't give up the ship!”

You've probably heard those famous words from the War of 1812. But did you know the father of E. St. Julien Cox was there when they were spoken?

On June 1, 1813, William S. Cox was serving aboard the USS Chesapeake when it engaged the British warship HMS Shannon off the coast of Boston. When Captain James Lawrence was mortally wounded, Cox helped carry him below deck. Lawrence's reported command, “Don't give up the ship!” became one of the most famous phrases in American naval history.

But the Chesapeake was captured, and Cox's troubles were just beginning. He would face a court-martial, dismissal from the Navy, and a controversy that continued long after his death.

in 1875, the St. Peter Tribune published Cox's death notice, remembering him as a gentleman of the “old school” who had spent his later years in Minnesota.

There's much more to W. S. Cox's story, including an extraordinary development nearly 140 years after the battle.

Would you like to hear the rest of his story? Let us know in the comments!

📰 St. Peter Tribune, October 21, 1875. Minnesota Historical Society collections.

10/21/2026

Reserve your 2027 NCHS calendar, featuring 13 photographs from our collection showcasing Nicollet County’s past!

• $20 for NCHS members who reserve by October 30
• $25 for nonmembers and members reserving after October 30

Anyone can reserve a copy. No payment is needed now; pay at pickup. We’ll let you know when your calendar arrives at the History Center.

Reserve yours: https://www.nchsmn.org/calendar-reservation/

10/20/2026

In 1918, Choctaw members of the U.S. American Expeditionary Forces, who were not considered U.S. citizens, were asked to use their native language as a powerful tool against German Forces in WWI, setting a precedent for code-talking as an effective military weapon and establishing them as America’s original Code Talkers.

10/18/2026

They're safely on their way to get ready for Dolls of the Dark. Come meet them on Halloween eve.