Fort Snelling

Fort Snelling in 1840s. Painting by Henry Lewis

Map of Minnesota/Wisconsin Forts 1820

PAGENAME (1820-1946) - Colonel Josiah Snelling began construction on the permanent fort in 1820 and it was completed and named after him in 1825. The fort was abandoned in 1857, but reactivated in 1861 as a state training center during the Civil War. Federal troops returned in 1866, making the post the headquarters of the vast Military Department of Dakota. Fort Snelling was home to 25,000 Union soldiers during the Civil War.

The post was used as a recruitment and training depot during the two World Wars. Four of the original sixteen buildings still stand. Reconstructed in 1969.

Located east of the fort was an American Fur Co. post. Located south of the fort was a Columbia Fur Co. post.

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Location: Located at the junction of Minnesota Highways 5 and 55, one mile east of the Twin Cities International Airport. Maps & Images Lat: 44.88583 Long: -93.17778 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 700'

Links:

• Minnesota Historical Society

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