The huge
Limestone bull struck me to be unusual, but what really shocked me was that
this was the location of the Dakota Massacre. Today it is known as
“Reconciliation Park.” Upon your
arrival you will notice a rock with words on it that state:
“In honor
of Amos Owen, Norman Crooks, and Hereditary Chief Ernest Wabasha for their
lasting efforts toward reconciliation among all peoples.
Grandfather, I come to tell you this day in my humble way to
offer my prayers for the thirty-eight Dakota who perished in Mankato in the
year of 1862.
To the West, I pray for the Horse Nation, and to the North I
pray to the Elk People.
To the East, I pray to the Buffalo Nation, and to the South,
the Spirit People.
To the Heavens, I pray to the Great Spirit and to the
Spotted Eagle.
And Below, I pray to the Mother Earth to help us in this
time of reconciliation.
Grandfather, I offer these prayers in my humble way.
To all my relations.
-Amos Owen.”
I wanted to include
this poem in my paper to get a point across and for you to feel what I felt
when I read it. I can’t even begin to express how this impacted me. This is
something that Mankato can’t be proud of, but at the same time Mankato can’t
ignore it either. It is a huge part of Mankato’s history, and it put Mankato on
the map at a national level.
It all
started when settlers pushed westward and pushed Native Americans into
reservations. As time went on, the
Dakota kept getting pushed westward, plus they would reduce the size of their
reservations. Then Annuity payments were late and rumors flew around that if
they were paid at all, it wouldn’t be in the customary gold because of the
ongoing Civil War. The Dakota demanded that the payments be made directly to
them, and when the traders heard this, they said that they would let the
Indians starve. Well one thing led to another and some random groups of
Dakota’s went on killing sprees. It was those few groups that gave all Native
Americans bad names. The white settlers were terrified and demanded that
something be done. All of this led to the execution in Mankato.
(http://www.law.umkc.edu/ faculty/projects/ftrials/ dakota/dakota.html)
There were originally 393 Dakota tried. In all, 323 Dakota were convicted and 308
were sentenced to hanged. These men then were imprisoned and moved from place
to place. While they transferred the Dakota through New Ulm, an angry mob
attacked them killing a few and injuring many. As time passed on, President
Lincoln issued orders that allowed 39 of the 308 Dakota to go forward, with the
executions. Later one more man was taken off the list of executions. On
December the 24th of 1862, the 38 condemned men were allowed to meet
with their families for the last time. Then at 10 a.m. on December 26, 1862, a
cold day, the 38 condemned (singing and chanting Dakota songs) were led to the
scaffolds in Mankato. Three drumbeats signaled the moment of execution, and the
crowd cheered. The 38 bodies were then buried on a single grave on the edge of
town. This was the largest mass execution ever-recorded in U.S. history. After
that, all Native Americans were banned from Minnesota. They were pushed into
the Dakota’s were they where basically left to starve and freeze to death.
(http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/dakota/dakota.html)
Today we know that Mankato is not the “city
of the future,” and it’s downtown is no longer the heart of the city. Mankato’s
growth rate is very low (North
Mankato’s is very high). We are not as big or powerful as other cities in Minnesota
and the U.S. Mankato has been affected
by decentralization and is a product of urban renewal. The Mankato City Council
is currently working on restoring Old Town Mankato. Mankato may seem like your
typical town, but it has a colorful past, with many funky characteristics.
Mankato and North Mankato were both ranked in the top small city’s to live, in
the United States (The Free Press). I would have to agree 110% with that, but
let’s not advertise that, so we can keep it that way!
1. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/dakota/dakota.html
2. Funky Towns USA by Mark Cramer
3. Cities and Urban Life by John J. Macionis & Vincent N. Parrillo