When I drove into  the Minnesota River Valley  in southwestern Minnesota last week, I recalled a conversation I had with a member of the Mdewakanton tribe from Morton, back in the early 1990's.  He said the tribe was still trying to recover the remains of their relatives who had been hanged in Mankato during the Dakota Conflict of 1862.

Above photo shows the front door of the warehouse which was a pivotal part of the Conflict of 1862.

I couldn't help but wonder if there had been any progress and went online to find out.  I came across this wonderful website created by a middle school in Mankato,  This link shows the results of the tribe's efforts to have the remains returned at the time of the website's publication.

In spite of its heartbreaking past, the Minnesota River Valley is a destination to study history, enjoy scenic vistas, or enjoy shopping, dining and gaming.   The river valley doesn't have a bad season.  Unlike some of us, it looks good all year round.