Since the beginning of the Nicollet County Historical Society in 1928, the organization’s earliest leaders’ primary focus was preserving the stories of Nicollet County.
However, complicating the Society’s infancy was that though many artifacts were initially donated, there was no building to house them.
NCHS spent many years moving the collection all over St. Peter awaiting a permanent home. Over the years, NCHS was in the First National Bank basement, the Konsbruck, the Nicollet County Courthouse basement, the Neubert Hatchery building, and the Central Community Center.
After many unsuccessful years searching for a permanent place to call home, NCHS won a 100-year lease on land in May 1988. The Treaty Site History Center opened in 1994, finally providing a safe home for our treasures.
Today our collection contains thousands of artifacts. Photographs, manuscripts, books, maps, and more are preserved and readily accessible to researchers. Early agricultural implements share space with toys, dresses, uniforms, musical instruments, sports equipment, furnishings, portraits, and other local significance artifacts in 3-D storage. We continue to seek unique items of specific historical importance to Nicollet County and its people.
