page_title: Fort Snelling
section_title: Prologue
hierarchical_section_title: Fort Snelling / History / Prologue
caption_attribution_description: English: Fort Snelling Upper Post, Barracks. Last occupied during World War II
context_page_description: Fort Saint Anthony was renamed Fort Snelling once its construction was completed in 1825. It is a former United States Army fortification that was designated a Military Reservation on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. That designation placed fort lands outside territorial administration or jurisdiction. Over time the location was part of the Louisiana Purchase and was included in the Missouri Territory. When Missouri became a state in 1812 the land not included became an Unorganized Territory which included Minnesota west of the Mississippi. When the Wisconsin Territory was formed Minnesota and Fort Snelling were included in the new Territory. When Wisconsin gained statehood in 1848 the Minnesota Territory was formed. By an an
  Act of Congress the Military Reservation was reduced in size on 26 August 1852. It was again reduced on 4 Janurary 1871. Today, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area a National Park Service unit, includes historic Fort Snelling as well as other portions of old fort lands as part of their operations.
context_section_description: The War Department decommissioned Fort Snelling a second time on 14 October 1946.  Various federal agencies were allowed to request land parcels from the land that made up Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory.  Since the Army 
  departed, the majority of the structures fell into disrepair. In 1960, the fort itself was listed as a National Historic Landmark, citing its importance as the first major military post in the region, and its later history in the development of the United States Army.  
  Many acres of fort land have been lost to roads.  Construction of the Mendota Bridge ran a State highway across old fort land.  More fort land was lost when an Interstate 94 interchange was added as well as access roads to the International Airport, National Cemetery, VA Hospital and bridge into St. Paul.
  In 1963 Fort Snelling became headquarters of United States Army Reserve 205th Infantry Brigade, that had units throughout the Upper Midwest.  In 1994 that ended as a part of force-structure eliminations. 
  The fort has been reconstructed to replicate its original appearance starting in 1965.  Time and use had been hard on the original fort.  The walls, barracks and buildings had been removed There was archaeological work done at the site in 1957-8 and again in 1966-7.  At that time all that remained from the original fort were the round  and hexagon towers.  State archaeologists located the foundations of all that had been demolished allowing them to pin point the structures they reconstructed. The Minnesota Historical Society has  since made the original walled fort or "Lower Post" into an interactive interpretive center. It is staffed from spring to early fall with personnel attired for re-enacting early post life.  Although restoring the original fort assures its survival, many buildings constructed from the Indian Wars to WWII and known as the "Upper Post" have fallen into serious disrepair and neglect.  In May 2006, the National Trust for Historic Preservation added Upper Post of Fort Snelling to its list of "America's Most Endangered Places".  Some restoration on historic Fort Snelling continues. Crews removed the flagpole from the iconic round tower and installed it in the ground, a change since its opening as a historic fort.  Pending funding, the historic fort has planned a massive renovation project for the year 2020. 
  The United States Navy named an amphibious warfare ship, the USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30), to honor the fort.
caption: Neglected barracks in the Upper Post last used during World War II
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