Land of Memories Park (Dakota Wokiksuye Makoce)

USA / Minnesota / Skyline /
 park, place with historical importance
Likely site of the detention of 800 capured Dakota following the close of the Dakota conflict of 1862. Though popularly believed to have been located across the river at Sibley Park, Actual historical writings of the period describe the encampment as being in South Bend, which is named for the U-shaped turn in the Minnesota River abutting Land of Memories Park. (Not to be confused with the group of 303 of the 800 who were originally found guilty, and were held at Camp Lincoln in Sibley Park)

The City of Mankato was named after Indian Chief Mahkato, who was camped on this land at the time the first settlers arrived via steamboat. If it weren't for a typo on state paperwork, the city of Mankato would have been named "Mahkato", as intended. Mahkato translated means "sky tinted waters", which stems from the blue color of the river water when blue clay would erode into the water from farther up the river valleys.

Annual site of Native American Pow-Wow commemorating the conflict and the 38 executed Dakota. www.mahkatowacipi.org


Site of Annual Summer Solstice music and Art festival. Facilities include campsites, frisbee golf, boat landing, and soccer & football fields.
www.ci.mankato.mn.us/pages.aspx?p_PageAlias=PARKS_LandO...

Hiking trails lead to remnants of the Blue Earth River dam, at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   44°9'31"N   94°2'25"W

Comments

  • Land of Memories is where the condemned indians were temporarily held prior to being moved to downtown Mankato. On December 26, 1862, the largest mass execution in U.S. history occurred in Mankato following the Dakota War of 1862. Thirty-eight Dakota Amerindians were hanged for participation in the uprising; a total of 303 were sentenced to be hanged but President Lincoln pardoned 265 at the urging of Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple. Lincoln's intervention was not popular at the time. Two commemorative statues are located on the site of the hangings (now home to the Blue Earth County Library and Reconciliation Park).
This article was last modified 10 years ago