Lake city is THE homeland of dakota people and the birthplace of waterskiing
Lake City is homeland of the Dakhóta (Dakota) people. For thousands of years, they have known and treasured this region for its beauty and sustenance. Exploration of the area by Europeans is believed to date to 1654, when French explorers Radisson and Grosseilliers came to the area. The French and British—and later Americans—followed, engaging in exploration, missionary work, and trade. Once settlement began, Lake City grew rapidly, thanks to the area’s lush soil, the natural beauty of Lake Pepin, and its location on the Mississippi River-the great transportation corridor of the Upper Midwest. The booming city was incorporated in 1872.
In 2023 the Lake City Historical Society was awarded a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant for the completion of a Long Term Collection Preservation Plan. Completed in 2024, the plan guides our work. The project was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.