About the Association |
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The Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association began on January 6, 2006, when nine people, who were concerned with the preservation of the Wood Lake Battlefield site, decided to join together to try to bring public awareness and interest to this mostly privately owned Minnesota historic site. This grassroots association has grown steadily since its conception and currently has over 1060 members from 35 states.
The Wood Lake Battlefield is one of two Minnesota sites that are recognized as Civil War Sites. The Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (SWSAC) determined in 1993 that the Great Sioux Uprising of 1862-1864 was of national significance. And out of 10,500 evaluated national sites, two in Minnesota, Fort Ridgely and Wood Lake Battlefield, were included in the final list of 384. This being due to site integrity and the nationally significant events associated with the Civil War, western expansion and the government’s Indian policy.
On July 30, 2010, the National Park Service awarded the Wood Lake Battlefield to be listed in The National Register of Historic Places.
The Association is working closely with land owners, the Civil War Trust (CWT), The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) of the National Park Service, Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in order to secure conservation easements on a major portion of the battlefield.
Funding for this project has been raised through individual memberships to the association, private donations and grants from the Civil War Trust, American Battlefield Protection Program, and The Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation.
An easement is in place...
The ravine area of the battlefield is available for self-guided tours for all people to interpret according to their own study of what happened at the site in 1862.
Visitors will be able to experience first hand the special feeling that many feel when they walk in the pasture…land that has never been cultivated and has endured the last 150 years with little change. Please note the Battle site is closed to the public each year from October 1 to December 31.
Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association (WLBPA) Brochure
The Association brochure is available at the Upper Sioux Agency Interpretive Center, County Historical Societies (Brown, Chippewa, Nicollet, Redwood, Renville, and Yellow Medicine) or by contacting the Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association at tom@woodlakebattefield.com.
Wood Lake Battlefield - Minnesota
“Virtually no battlefield connects the Civil War with Indian Wars better than this battlefield. No other place tells this story. The Wood Lake Battlefield is Abraham Lincoln's 'fourth front'. He never expected to be fighting battles in the Upper Midwest while he was fighting to preserve the Union.” Dennis Frye |
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WLBPA Officers:The association is lead by 13 directors and their officers: President - Tom HosierVice President - Scott Larson Vice President - Dennis Dahmes Secretary / Treasurer - Janet Hosier |
WLBPA Directors:Steve Anderson (Hudson, Wisconsin) Honorary DirectorBob Meinhard (Winona) |
The Association is supported by Organization Partners who recognize the valuable effort of promoting history and the preservation of historical sites.
3rd Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry Company C |
P.E.O. Chapter FH |
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Scott HosierThe inspiration for the Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association came from Scott Hosier. Scott was a published Civil War historian, history teacher, and an authority regarding the U.S./Dakota War of 1862. Scott passed away on October 19th, 2005, but his dream to preserve, restore, and interpret the Wood Lake Battlefield lives on with the WLBPA. |