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Readying a local nod to history

Allen Smith, Star Tribune

The Landing in Shakopee, formerly Murphy’s Landing, will host a traveling history exhibit and offer horse-drawn trolley rides.

A daylong event on Saturday at a re-created historic village will be the Scott County centerpiece of this year's 150th anniversary of statehood celebration.

By DAVID PETERSON, Star Tribune

Last update: May 13, 2008 - 7:36 PM

OTHER 150TH ANNIVERSARY ACTIVITIES IN SCOTT COUNTY

May 29: Catholic Cemetery Walking Tour

Learn about the Benedictine connection, a family murdered, and other stories

June 10-13: Seed art map of Minnesota

Hands-on children's activity at the Scott County libraries

July 12: Strait House Picnic Party

Tours of the historic Strait house, naturalist-led nature walks, puppet show, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

June-September: "Scott County Celebrates Minnesota's 150 Years of Statehood" parade float at Savage's Dan Patch Days (June 22), Belle Plaine's BBQ Days (July 19), Prior Lake's Lakefront Days (Aug. 2), Shakopee's Derby Days (Aug. 3) and Jordan's Heimatfest (Sept. 13)

July 23-27: "Main Street to Statehood" traveling exhibit will be on display at the Scott County Fair

For more information: Scott County Historical Society, 952-445-0378

More from South Metro

The fact that the bike trail along the Minnesota River is under water in a couple of places is not deterring anyone from a first-annual Carver/Scott Family Bike Ride on Saturday morning as the kickoff to Scott County's part in this year's observance of 150 years of Minnesota statehood.

"The ride's a go," said Scott County commissioner Jerry Hennen, of Shakopee, who came up with the idea. "We can divert around it."

Two sets of riders will begin in Chaska and head to Shakopee, and vice versa, at about the same time, in an event co-created by Hennen and a counterpart from Carver, commissioner Randy Maluchnik. The event has its origin, Hennen said, in a dreamy day when he, his wife and another couple made that same trip and found themselves forgetting about the rest of the world.

"Time didn't mean anything. We sat for two hours and just talked."

Planning for Scott County's part in the statewide observance has been more sensitive than in some other places. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is not inclined to celebrate an event that meant its eviction from most of its land.

European settlers "shoved the Native Americans off the land," said Kathy Klehr, executive director of the Scott County Historical Society. "And our travelling exhibit will talk about the Dakota people and the treaties. We can't not.

"But everyone has been very gracious about it: The tribe has simply opted out. We have been working without their input, but I haven't felt any tension whatsoever."

A travelling exhibit, called "Main Street to Statehood," will debut at the Landing, formerly Murphy's Landing, on Saturday, and then travel throughout the county for the rest of the year.

Admission to the re-created historic village will be free for the day, even to bikers from Carver County.

David Peterson • 952-882-9023