Bdote - Historic Fort Snelling

(May 26, 2018) – Saint Paul Minnesota

On a seasonally hot Memorial Day weekend Saturday, I made an overdue visit to historic Fort Snelling. The Fort is located out of sight but just across the highway from the Minneapolis – St. Paul hub airport.

Fort Snelling was located in 1818 at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, a junction known by the Sioux as Bdote. Bdote for many years prior to U. S. possession had cultural significance to the Sioux people.

Brigadier General Zebulon Pike (whom Pike’s Peak was named for) in 1805 led an expedition to explore the Mississippi River. Pike’s exploration while not directly sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson took place the same time as the Lewis and Clark expedition of the Missouri River and the Pacific Northwest.

During his exploration Pike concluded a treaty with two Sioux Indian Chiefs and concluded as history records “Pike’s Purchase.”  The Treaty that was never ratified provided for the sale of about one hundred thousand acres of land (within U. S. territory) to the government. Inside the boundaries of Pike’s Purchase were Bdote and also the junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers (today: Hastings, Minnesota.)

Colonel Josiah Snelling, the Commander of the U S Fifth Infantry Regiment in 1819 was dispatched to Bdote to build a military fort. Named Fort Saint Anthony, the fort’s mission was to establish the United States’ presence in the territory, provide protection for settlers, and facilitate the fur trade. Fort Saint Anthony became the furthest western outpost in U. S. territory at the time. In 1825 Fort Saint Anthony was renamed Fort Snelling.

Fort Snelling remained operational with many different missions until it closed in 1946. The Fort was turned over to the State of Minnesota in 1858 when Minnesota was granted Statehood.  During the Civil War, Fort Snelling was used for recruiting and training exercises by both the Minnesota State Militia and Union Army. The federal government also maintained an Indian Agency there. After the Civil War the U S Army regained possession. During World War I, the Army built a contemporary facility for the U. S. Calvary adjacent to the historic fort. Over three hundred thousand soldiers mustered out at Fort Snelling in World War I. In 1944 the Army relocated their Foreign Language Training School to Fort Snelling for the teaching of Japanese and Korean languages. Minnesota being one of the few states willing to accept the school with its Japanese-American instructors.

Fort Snelling throughout its history never came under attack. On a very few occasions the battery did fire warning shots across the bow of boats traveling up river that would not stop for identification. While only four of the original buildings remain intact, the historic compound has been accurately reconstructed to its 1820s provenance. The original buildings are the Watchtower, Commandant’s Home, Officer’s Quarters, and South Battery.

In addition to the aforementioned buildings, the Garrison included the barracks, the half-moon battery overlooking the junction of the rivers, the Fort’s store, the commissary, the magazine, the school which was also used as a chapel and warehouse, the guard’s office with sleeping quarters and jail, and the shops. The shops included kitchen, bakery, carpentry, and blacksmith. The perimeter of the fort is surrounded by a high stone wall rising high above the rivers. The buildings encompass the large parade ground.

The Batteries were seriously cool. Their commanding position and construction provided great protection yet retained the flexibility to quickly maneuver and sight their guns. The Commandant’s Home including the Command headquarters in the basement were a great snapshot of how garrison operations are carried out. The Command headquarters included Commanding Officer’s office and map room, Adjutant’s office, and clerks’ office.

Historic Fort Snelling is a wonderful learning opportunity. This well maintained historic site gives a first-hand look at the daily life of a soldier on the frontier. The Minnesota Historical Society has done a comprehensive job with this historically significant venue. 

The attendants, guides, and reenactors are extremely welcoming and knowledgeable. Their expertise is caused by the fact many are teachers. Working at Fort Snelling is a compatible second job because public tours are available only during the summer months and on special weekends.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a first-class Minnesota government agency. I appreciate Minnesota’s commitment to history. Each of their other sites I have visited (James J Hill House and Mill City Museum) are tops!

The Historical Society’s presentation of Fort Snelling goes beyond its military and American history. They place an added emphasis on the treatment of minority peoples including relationships between the First Americans (Sioux and Ojibwe) African Americans (Dred Scott), and Japanese Americans (the Foreign Language School).

Footnote – There were two important residents of Fort Snelling. Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor served as Commanding Officer from 1828 to 1829. Taylor would later become a Major General and hero in the Mexican War and our twelfth President. Dred Scott lived there with his family from 1836 to 1840 as a slave owned by the Post Surgeon. Scott later returned to Missouri a slave state. Claiming his four years in Wisconsin Territory (Fort Snelling) made him a freeman, he sued for his freedom. Ultimately the United States Supreme Court decided against him. The Dred Scott decision in 1857 fueled the flames of public divisiveness on the slavery issue leading up to the Civil War.