The Minnesota Historical Society has long-term plans to revitalize Fort Snelling, the historic landmark at the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. They will share their vision at upcoming open houses.
Work began on the fort in 1820 and the Historical Society wants to make a big splash in 2020, its 200th anniversary.
Some of their ideas, which will require state and private funding, include:
- Historic cavalry barracks to be preserved and adaptively restored to create a new visitor center so visitors of all ages and backgrounds can come together to explore history and the experiences that bind us together as a community.
- Diverse communities will gather to commemorate the fort’s mosaic of stories, which evoke both pride and pain.
- The landscape surrounding the fort will take better advantage of its bluff-top vista and be easy and pleasant to navigate.
Three open houses are planned in the coming weeks, so people can see and comment on the plans being made. They’re calling the new project: “Many Stories: A New Vision for Historic Fort Snelling.”
The events, all from 5:30-7:30 p.m., are:
- Tues, Oct. 27, Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Pkwy., Minneapolis
- Thurs, Oct. 29, Historic Fort Snelling Visitor Center, 200 Tower Av., St. Paul
- Mon, Nov. 2, Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 Dale St. N., St. Paul
