Fort Snelling: Should its history be told?
Historic landmarks are places that powerfully evoke memory and meaning, connecting us tangibly to the past. Minnesota’s Fort Snelling is such a place, designated the state’s first National Historic Landmark in 1960. From its commanding presence above the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, Fort Snelling lies at the crossroads of Minnesota’s and our nation’s history. When the Minnesota Historical Society opened the restored fort in 1970, visitors came to experience life at a frontier outpost in the 1820s. Since then, we have gradually expanded the scope of our programs. Plans are now underway to present a much broader story, conveying the immense meaning Fort Snelling holds for us. It is time to open the lens of history wider, to include our diverse Minnesota communities in presenting the past, and to address differences of opinion about the events that unfolded in this place. The story of Fort Snelling begins with the presence of native peoples on this land for thousand
