About the Association

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 1263 members from 39 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 works closely with landowners, the Civil War Trust (CWT), The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) of the National Park Service, Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) 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), Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) or by contacting the Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association at [email protected].

WLBPA Officers:

The association is lead by 13 directors and their officers: President – Tom Ellig
Vice President – Dennis Dahmes
Secretary / Treasurer – Janet Hosier

WLBPA Directors:

Steve Anderson (Hudson, Wisconsin)
Dave Craigmile (Boyd)
Dennis Dahmes (Lakeville)
Jennifer Disbrow (Granite Falls)
Janet Hosier (Rochester)
Nicole Elzenga (Redwood Falls)
Chad Kamolz (Redwood Falls)
Alan Koenig (Buffalo Lake)
Dustin Kvistad (Clarkfield)
Ben Leonard (St. Peter)
Gary Lentz (Echo)
George Romano (Rochester)

Honorary Directors:

Bob Meinhard (Winona)
Scott Larson (Redwood Falls)

Current Projects: We have received approval from the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) for proceeding with the Thomason & Associate professional plan for interpreting and developing the battlefield in increments of 5, 10 and long range years. The association is working on developing paths, points of interpretation and signage. Yellow Medicine County continues to improve the pull off at the battle site. The Association is working on co-coordinating signage for the monument site and battle site. A rack card will be available at MHS in St. Paul and historical sites along the Minnesota River to help our visitors find and interpret both the monument and battle site.

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 5th Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry Amigo Riders Saddle Club Brown County Historical Society Cannon Valley Civil War Round Table Central Minnesota Civil War Round Table Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce Chicago Civil War Round Table Chippewa County Historical Society Granite Falls Lions Club Heritage Arms Society Hiawatha Valley Civil War Round Table Mill Springs Battlefield Minnesota’s Machinery Museum Native American Center of Southeast Minnesota Nicollet County Historical Society

P.E.O. Chapter FH Pond-Dakota Heritage Society Redwood Area Chamber/Tourism Redwood County Historical Society Renville County Historical Society Rochester Civil War Round Table Scott Hosier World War II Round Table St. Croix Civil War Round Table Twin Cities Civil War Round Table Valley Riders Saddle Club Yellow Medicine County Historical Society Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church Zumbro Valley Arms Collectors