​Tourism

Welcome to Sleepy Eye!

It’s all right here in Sleepy Eye…from specialty shops and crafts to groceries, gifts and fine furniture.  But Sleepy Eye is even more.  We’re home to service people, craftsman and professionals due to our quality of life, first rate education and profitable business opportunities.  You get professional care at home town prices.  It’s all right here in Sleepy Eye!
Ladies of Another View -
My Hometown - Chamber Of Commerce & CVB
Ladies of Another View -
My Hometown - Economic Development
Veteran's Park
​Located in downtown Sleepy Eye, it contains a Veteran's Memorial Wall with names of servicemen past and present that have served in the US military. It also is the home to the KIA Monument with the names of those men who were from Sleepy Eye and gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service to their country. The military branches are represented by the individual flags flying in the park, as well as the United States and POW/MIA flags. 
The most recent addition to the park is the Huey Helicopter. If you want to see and hear the history of our Huey go to this link Veterans Park - Huey Helicopter on historicsleepyeye.com website.
Bronze Name Plate Order:
To have yours or your families military service commemorated on the Veteran's Park black granite wall, Fill out the form in the link below, and bring to City Hall along with a check made out to City of Sleepy Eye - Veteran's Park.
Veteran's Park Commemorative Plate Order Form
Wooldrik Park
​Located in the downtown Sleepy Eye is the Chief Sleepy Eye Statue, which is an 8-foot-tall bronze sculpture created in true likeness of Chief Sleepy Eyes. The artist, JoAnne Bird, is also a member of the Chief's band— the SissetonWahpeton band of Dakota (Sioux) Native Americans.
Ishtakhaba (Dakota: Ištáȟba), a.k.a. Chief Sleepy Eye, was a Native American chief of the Sisseton Dakota tribe. He was chief sometime between 1822 and 1825, receiving a commission from the Bureau of Indian Affairs as chief in 1824, and remained chief until his death in 1860.
Ishtakhaba tried to promote peace with whites in and around the state of Minnesota. He was a signer of at least four treaties with the United States government, including the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, and met with President James Monroe in Washington, D.C. in 1824. Chief Sleepy Eyes was known for his friendships with "explorers, traders, missionaries and government officials".  
View the above video on YouTube - Art of Remembering Sleepy Eye video link
Not a part of Wooldrik park but just as important is the obelisk under which Chief Sleepy Eye is buried. This is located just north of the statue, next to the Sleepy Eye Depot Museum.
A bit of our history from around the country
Stoneware Museum of Monmouth, IL
Ladies of Another View -
My Hometown - Our History

Historic Baseball Park

The historic baseball field in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, holds a special place in the hearts of baseball enthusiasts, particularly because it was graced by the legendary Babe Ruth. In 1922, Ruth, along with his teammate Bob Meusel, visited Sleepy Eye as part of a barnstorming tour. Despite the cold weather and flurries, which led to a smaller crowd than expected, the game was memorable for those who attended. The visit was significant enough that the town celebrated the 100th anniversary of this event, honoring the history of baseball and the joy that Ruth brought to the small town. Such events highlight the enduring legacy of sports figures like Ruth and the deep connection between America's pastime and its communities.
Ladies of Another View -
My Hometown - Baseball & Babe Ruth
  • Click the link in the name above to see our ballpark on our Park & Recreation page.
  • Learn about Babe Ruth playing in Sleepy Eye, and the 100th Anniversary celebration held in October 2022, at http://www.historicsleepyeye.com/babe-ruth.html

Sleepy Eye Parks & Recreation

​Sleepy Eye has a parks system that is at least equal to or surpasses any community of equal size in the state. The ten parks which range in size from 1 city block to 18.2 acres are arranged for easy accessibility for all city residents and visitors. 
Click the link in the name to visit our Park & Recreation page.

Sleepy Eye Lake Trail

Run, walk, roll or ride the 3-mile+ asphalt trail. The trail has two main trailheads: Allison's Park on the south side of the lake and Sportsmen's Park on the north side of the lake. The trail is 3.1 miles, or 5K. Great place to practice your next 5K run.
Click the link in the name above to see the trail map.

Sleepy Eye Lake

Sleepy Eye Lake is a tremendous outlet for local water sports activities. It is also a great lake for pan-fish, bass, walleye, and northern pike.
There is a public boat landing on the north side of the lake at Sportsmen's Park, next to a wonderful campgrounds.
Mission for Fishing Channel -MN Fishing Opener 2024 || Sleepy Eye Lake
May 12, 2024
In today's episode we head to a local lake and put the first few bucket-mouths of the 2024 season in the boat.
Mission for Fishing Channel - Sleepy Eye Lake
Jul 7, 2018
In today's segment of mission for fishing we go out and target some bass and northern pike on Sleepy Eye Lake Minnesota and end up finding a really nice spot for topwater!

Sleepy Eye Family Aquatic Center

Fun in the sun at our Aquatic Center. Water slides, infant/toddler separate swimming pool, concession stand and much more. Click on the name above to check out the Aquatic Center's webpage.

Dyckman Free Library

The Dyckman Free Library was the gift of the late Francis H. Dyckman. Francis H. Dyckman came to Sleepy Eye from New York City and established the first bank. He married his wife Louise Chance (Heroy) Dyckman in New York City in April of 1885. In August of 1886 their daughter Mary Lang Dyckman was born in Sleepy Eye. By the 1900 census the family was living in Essex New Jersey. Mr. Dyckman died May 9, 1904 in Orange New Jersey.
The Library was founded on the same plan as the Andrew Carnegie libraries – the donor gave the building, provided the people who annually tax themselves for the books and maintenance of the property. The building was built in 1900, and was then dedicated in May of 1901.
Visit the Library page by clicking on the name above.

STORY OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH

In 1872 the growing settlement around Sleepy Eye Lake was officially platted and established as the village of Sleepy Eye.  The operation of the railroad and the development of a large milling company followed.
With this rapid growth, the need for a Catholic Church was soon evident.  The first wood-framed, brick-veneered church was built in 1876 just north of the current church building.

Read more about the church & school by clicking on the title above.
Ladies of Another View - My Hometown - St. Mary's Church
Divinemercyafc.org
Logo above links to website
Picture
THINGS TO DO IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Logo above links to website
Wikipedia: Sleepy Eye, MN
More information than you may want to know.
Logo links to website
UA-135577565-1