The site of the Battle of Birch Coulee
Birch Coulee Battlefield
The site of the Battle of Birch Coulee
Today a peaceful prairie, Birch Coulee was the site of one of the deadliest battles of the US-Dakota War, over 150 years ago.
Open dawn to dusk.
This site is managed by the Renville County Historical Society.
Jct of Renville Cty Hwy 2 and Hwy 18 Morton, MN 56270
birchcoulee@mnhs.org | 800-657-3773
What to see and do
What to see and do
Tour the self-guided trails where markers explain the battle from both Dakota and US soldiers’ perspectives.
A 36-hour siege
A 36-hour siege
The Battle of Birch Coulee began when a group of 200 Dakota soldiers surrounded a camp of soldiers and civilians from Fort Ridgely, and opened fire at dawn. This was the beginning of a siege that lasted 36 hours and resulted in devastating casualties.
