Visit the Ney Nature Center on Sunday, September 14th during the Henderson Heritage Days Celebration as we learn more about Henry David Thoreau’s visit to Minnesota through a presentation by Dale Schwie.
His illustrated lecture will include information compiled from Thoreau’s Notes on the Journey West, and from the letters of Horace Mann Jr. The entire journey from Massachusetts to Minnesota will be discussed, but emphasis will be placed on his month in Minnesota, with added emphasis on the Minnesota River excursion.
Following the presentation, get on board our newly custom-built hay wagon for a ride to the Ney Homestead where volunteers will be giving guided tours of the buildings and grounds, including the Ney Family’s log cabin, stage coach stop, summer kitchen, scenic overlook, and hired man’s house. The Ney Family as Territorial Pioneers, homesteaded this site before Minnesota officially became a state in 1858.
This event is free to all. Donations are appreciated.
Thoreau’s Minnesota Journey
An Illustrated Lecture
by Dale R. Schwie
In May of 1861, Henry David Thoreau left his home town of Concord, Massachusetts on what was to be the longest journey of his life; a trip to Minnesota where he would spend one month exploring and botanizing around St. Anthony, Minneapolis, Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, St. Paul, and Red Wing.
Also included was a steamboat excursion up the Minnesota River to witness the annual government payment to the Indians at the Lower Sioux Agency. Although the trip on the Minnesota River occupied just over four days of Thoreau’s time in Minnesota, it is significant for the historical information and descriptions of the river that are found in his notes and correspondence, and in the letters of his traveling companion, Horace Mann Jr.
In addition to these, a newspaper article by a correspondent for the State Atlas and a personal account by a British tourist include different observations, from serious to humorous, regarding the activities on board the crowded steamboat. The trip on the Minnesota River included a brief stop at Henderson to take on more passengers and deliver supplies. Henderson is mentioned in Thoreau’s notes with a reference to the Big Woods and a brief description of the town is included in Mann’s letter to his mother.
No doubt, if Thoreau would have had the opportunity, he would have taken the time to explore the Big Woods, as he had recently delivered a speech and written an article on the succession of forest trees; a subject of great interest to him during that time.
He would be pleased to know that today, on a hill overlooking the Henderson boat landing area, is the Ney Nature Center which includes remnants of the Big Woods, a pond, and the hired man’s house; just a foot longer than Thoreau’s 10’x15’ house at Walden Pond. The Minnesota River, Ney Nature Center, the Big Woods, a pond, and a small house; Thoreau would certainly approve!
About Dale Schwie – Since retiring after a career in photography, Dale Schwie has been pursuing his long-standing vocational interest in the author Henry David Thoreau. Dale is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Concord, Massachusetts based Thoreau Society. Dale and his wife, Kay, residents of Richfield, Minn., are members of the Ney Nature Center and look forward to future programs and hikes throughout the Center. Dale is particularly interested in helping with the restoration of the Hired Man’s House.
