FThrei eFonrt dSnse lloinfg SFtaote rPta rSk Ansseoclilaitniog n Dedicated to the Preservation of the Historic and Natural Values of the Fort Snelling Area A New Vision for an Old Place From press releases On September 10, 1820, soldiers laid the cornerstone for the rivers is homeland, the birthplace of the world. Later, what today is Minnesota’s best-known historic site—Historic the fort was site of an internment camp for some 1,600 Fort Snelling. To commemorate the Fort’s bicentennial in Dakota following the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. 2020, the Minnesota Historical Society is embarking on a Westward expansion. The fort represents a site of U.S. major initiative to reintroduce this dramatic area to expansion into Dakota and Ojibwe homelands. Minnesotans and history lovers worldwide. Slavery. Dred and Harriet Scott were among the enslaved What is the vision for Historic Fort Snelling? Our vision people who were brought to the fort. is that visitors of all ages and backgrounds will come together in a park-like public commons overlooking the Mississippi. Trade. The rivers created a watery highway for trade Historic buildings will be rehabilitated to serve the public since prehistoric times. with visitor amenities and exhibits. People will gather to Military intelligence. During World War II, Japanese share experiences and reflect upon the site’s many stories— Americans trained at Fort Snelling to gather intelligence stories of American history told nowhere else—placing that helped end the war. Minnesota on the map for history and park lovers The plan will proceed in two phases, For the first phase in worldwide. Some of the details of the plans: particular, time is of the essence. • Two historic cavalry barracks will be rehabilitated to Phase I creates a foundation for the fort’s bicentennial. bring the public a new visitor center and exhibits. Phase II finalizes the vision as more and more visitors come to the site. • Paths for the entire area will be enhanced for pedestrians Phase I—by 2020 and vehicles, linking destinations like Minnehaha Falls, MNHS is requesting $34.4 million from the State of Coldwater Spring, Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, and Minnesota and $12 million in private funding to renovate Fort Snelling State Park. one historic cavalry barracks building to create a new visitor • Visitors will be able to meet in a park-like setting that center, demolish the current visitor center, enhance roads, builds upon the beautiful bluff-top vista and includes create a park-like plaza, and create new exhibits. places for reflection and public programming and events. Phase II — after 2020 • The many peoples who have use this site will share their The second phase will be announced by 2020 and will stories and experiences: include renovating the second cavalry barracks, plus The Dakota. To many Dakota people, the confluence of additional landscaping and pathway creation Page 2 Friends of Fort Snelling News • Summer 2015 From the President The level of activity at Fort Snelling has seriously ramped up recently. The following is an overview and summary of some of the activities; you can read about many of them elsewhere in this issue. Pre-bicentennial dinner and annual meeting: We have scheduled a dinner and annual meeting for Thursday evening, September 10, at the Minnesota Historical Society’s Visitor Center (off Bloomington Road). The evening will begin with a reception at 5:00, dinner at 6:00, and program at 7:00. The program will include Friends of a brief annual meeting, a description of the Minnesota Historical Society’s master plan, and Dominium’s plans for the renovation of the Upper Post. The Fort Snelling program will conclude by 8:30. Cost of the dinner is $15. Please register using Board of Directors the form on the page 6 of this newsletter. 2015 Officers Civil War Reenactment: The end of the Civil War will be commemorated, with at Jim Miller, President least two hundred people expected to be in costume, including reenactors, on Jeffrey Olson, Vice President August 15 and 16, Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Many of Malcolm McDonald, Treasurer the reenactors will arrive at Fort Snelling by steamboat. Huge attendance is anticipated. Linda Michie, Secretary Todd Adler, Past President Homeless Veteran Housing: Common Bond Communities recently completed the renovation of five historic buildings at Fort Snelling, including former horse Board Members stables and equipment barns, into fifty-eight units of housing for Minnesota’s Susanne Adler homeless veterans. The $17.2 million project includes $9.3 million from United Health Group and $5.5 million from bonds through the Minnesota Housing John Andrews Agency. Jerald Dosch, PhD Boy Scout Leadership Center: The Northern Star Council of Boy Scouts announced Matt Flueger their plans to construct a Leadership Center near their Base Camp at Fort Carol Forbes Snelling. The building will be about 35,000 square feet and include David Gilberstadt administrative and program spaces The cost of the building is expected to be Robert Minish between $10 and $12 million. Jonathan H. Morgan Upper Post: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources selected Dominium Mary Ann Newman to rehabilitate twenty-six vacant buildings on the Upper Post. Negotiations are Richard Nicholson underway to lease these properties to Dominium. The properties will be Stephen Osman converted to 190 affordable housing units and the project is expected to cost Dr. Nelson Rhodus $100 million. John Rupp Minnesota Historical Society’s Visitor Center: MHS has a master plan to demolish Ryan Sweere the present Visitor Center and renovate a nearby historic barracks as a new center. Total cost of the plan is $46 million; $34 million is to come from state Honorary Director bonding and $12 million from private donations. MSH received $500,000 from Charles W. Arnason the Legislature this spring and is now in pre-design. Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building: Last year the General Services Advisors Administration, Great Lakes Region, completed a $154 million restoration of the Larry Peterson, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at One Federal Drive, Fort Snelling. The Fort Snelling State Park building is 688,800 square feet. The contractor was Ryan Companies and the Tom Pfannenstiel, architect was Hammel, Green & Abrahamson. Fort Snelling & Sibley Historic Sites Membership: Our membership year began July 1. If you have not yet renewed your membership please continue with us and use the attached membership form on Copyright ©2015 by The Fort page 3. Thank you. Snelling State Park Association. — Jim Miller, President All rights reserved. Don’t miss our Annual Meeting on September 10! Typesetting and editing by Waltz Printouts Plus Use the form on page 6 to register now. Friends of Fort Snelling News • Summer 2015 Page 3 Prairie Restoration at Coldwater Spring by Neil Smarjesse, Biologist and Land Manager, Coldwater Spring The first couple seasons of a prairie ones. Thankfully, the dedication of these restoration can be ugly. Between mowing people has allowed Coldwater’s prairie, weeds and herbicide treatments, it can be which was seeded in 2012, to flourish. difficult to imagine what things will look With an established prairie at hand, our like in just a few years. The key is not to park plans to conduct its first controlled panic. burn in 2016. Prairie ecosystems have Coldwater Spring has been no evolved to depend on fire, which provides a exception. The first few years of number of benefits from controlling management were plagued by multiple invasive species to releasing nutrients back invasive species which we countered with in to the soil. While Coldwater Spring various management techniques. Much to remains a work in progress, there is plenty the dismay of volunteers and biologists, the to be proud of in the present. Please stop by best techniques are not always the easiest to enjoy the view! Join or Renew Now Yes, I want to become a Friend of Fort Snelling! Enclosed is my check payable to the Friends of Fort Snelling for: __ $ 25.00 Annual Membership (Individual, Couple, or Family) __ $ 55.00 Sustaining Membership (Individual, Couple, or Family) __ $ 25.00 Gift Membership (Individual, Couple, or Family) __ $ ___ Additional contribution to assist the work of the Friends. My Membership or Gift Membership for Name ______________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________ Address 2 ____________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________ State ______ ZIP ______________ Phone: ______________________________________________________________ e-mail: ____________________________________________________________________ Please send newsletter by E-mail or by U.S. Mail Please mail to Friends of Fort Snelling, 1078 Colne St, Saint Paul MN 55103 Or contribute online at www.fortsnelling.org Page 4 Friends of Fort Snelling News • Summer 2015 African American Soldiers at Civil War Fort Snelling by Stephen E. Osman African Americans had served during the Revolutionary War his detachment at Benton Barracks, the general rendezvous and War of 1812, but were barred from enlistment in the for colored recruits in the West. Sergeant Norwood has been regular army thereafter. But following the September 1862 recommended for a Captain’s commission in a colored Battle of Antietam, with the Union armies desperate for regiment by the Board of Examiners before whom he was troops, federal and recruiting began in earnest. By war’s end called some time ago.” 2 Many other veteran Minnesota some 179,000 soldiers were serving and a significant portion soldiers, including twenty-three members of the Third saw combat. Around 40,000 died in service, 75% from Minnesota, joined Norwood as officers in new colored disease. regiments. Minnesota recruits of African American descent shared The state adjutant general later reported that some 102 only a brief soldier life at Fort Snelling. At least thirty-five colored men from Minnesota served as soldiers during the such recruits who gave their place of residence as Fort war.