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Exhibitions
    Nicollet County Historical Society > Exhibitions > Nicollet County Historical Society - Treaty Site History Center > Sketches of Frank Blackwell Mayer

Sketches of Frank Blackwell Mayer

A pencil sketch depicts an old log house with a thatched roof and some missing planks. A wooden cart leans against the house. The image includes a signature reading "J.B. Mayer" and text that says "Trading house - interior lod burner.

In 1851, 23-year-old Baltimore native Frank Blackwell Mayer embarked on a 5,903-mile journey to document the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, recording the lives of Indigenous Minnesotans through detailed sketches. Despite not securing a government role in the treaty negotiations, Mayer’s commitment to capturing these historical moments left a lasting legacy, rivaling Seth Eastman’s work and surpassing George Catlin’s contributions in Minnesota. Though he intended to finish all 63 sketches in watercolor, Mayer completed only 31 before he died in 1899, preserving a unique visual record of this pivotal moment in history.

Admission to the History Center is

  • $7 adults
  • $6 seniors ages 55+
  • NCHS members and children ages 17 and younger visit for free.

Nicollet County Historical Society - Treaty Site History Center

The Treaty Site History Center is in St. Peter, MN, just off US Highway 169.

Address
1851 N. Minnesota Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082

Accessible parking
A free parking lot is available at the site.
Two disability parking spots are located near the museum’s entrance.
The parking lot and sidewalk are paved.

General
Service animals are welcome
First aid kits are available.
Restrooms on-site are wheelchair accessible.

For visitors with mobility disabilities
The History Center is a single-floor venue.
Public restrooms in the History Center include accessible facilities and diaper-changing stations.

The Nicollet County Historical Society was organized on August 22, 1928. From its home in the Treaty Site History Center, the Nicollet County Historical Society preserves, protects, and interprets the history of Nicollet County and the state of Minnesota.

The Treaty Site History Center features a nationally recognized and award-winning exhibit on the Traverse des Sioux Treaty of 1851 and its consequences. Other features of interest include local history exhibits, a gift shop, and a full-service research archive.

Learn more