Just for a moment, think of the most terrible things happening in our world. What comes to mind? Murder, rape, death, broken promises, war, ethnic cleansing, corruption, greed, and mass execution? Imagine that all these things happened in your locality and all at the same time. Unimaginable, right? All these things did happen and right here in Minnesota. Sad but true. These are facts I never learned in my Minnesota history classes. It's time this event came out from under the rug. You can learn all about it at the Minnesota History Center exhibit on the Dakota Uprising on 1862. This drawing above shows 38 Indians being hung for war crimes. Several were innocent. One ax blow cut the rope that hung all 38 men simultaneously - the largest mass execution in our United States. The bodies were buried in shallow graves next to the Minnesota River only to be dug up that night by physicians who wanted the bodies for medical research. I think every Minnesotan should see this exhibit. If you go, and I think you should, plan something cheerful later because you will likely walk out of there quite sad.
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