Military and Leisure
After being established, both Fort Snelling and Guantánamo were primarily used as military bases. During the Spanish-American War and the Phillippine-American War military troops, as well as their families were housed at both sites and the sites were also used for training. Many people stationed at the sites hold fond memories, in contrast to the histories of the detention the sites also have in common. Over time, these posts housed thousands of military personnel and their dependents, playing witness to- hours of grueling training, of inspections, of shared meals, of social gatherings, of schools, of sports, and so much more. Exploited populations have lived and worked at both places- including slaves at Ft. Snelling and Jamaican contract workers at Guantánamo- contributing to a history of racialized labor. Through pictures and narratives, we invite you to explore the stories of those who have called Fort Snelling and Guantánamo home.
Take me to my early home at Fort Snelling, and help me to live over again that happy time, when I knew nothing of care and sorrow, and when the sight of the dear old flag, run up, each morning, to the roll of the drum, and the sentinel's call, each night, "All's well around," made me feel secure and at home, even in what was then a wilderness.
- Charlotte Ouisconsin Clark Van Cleve, 1888
Growing up there offered the best of all worlds. I lived at the fort (my dad worked for the federal government) that had a golf course and a swimming pool. There was a State Park just behind our house. What more could a kid ask for? Needless to say, my siblings and I spent a lot of time outside. And some of the best times were when I was exploring in the park or prospecting a cave that had been carved away from the limestone along the riverbank.
- Kieran Charles Moore, 2002
My most vivid memories of Guantánamo was everything just being free down there and the closeness of all the people. There was no crime, none whatsoever. It was summer all year round. The water was just crystal clear as it can be and at the beaches they had what was called a cabana and you could rent it for a dollar a day and that is where everyone was every weekend was out at the beaches and everybody knew everybody. It was just wonderful growing up there in the 60s. We always say we want to gohome; we still call it home. I was just telling my sister today I would give anything to be able to go back.
- Anita Lewis Isom
It was like being in my backyard at home. It was not just safe, it was so enjoyable. Between my barracks and the hall we had what was called the Barrel Club, set right on about a thirty foot cliff above Guantánamo Bay. It opened up at 3:30 every afternoon. You could buy a beer for fifteen cents but we would rush down from work, go to the Barrel Club, get a beer, and sit there and look out over this bay and it was often said, “do you realize rich folks pay thousands of dollars to live like this?”
- David Pruett
“That’s the greatest place in the world for a kid to be raised. You didn’t have to worry about…nobody was gonna steal your stuff. There weren’t people that were going to accost you as a child. I mean, down there you could wander all you wanted to, ride your bike wherever you wanted to. The speed limit was 35…you could play in the street you weren’t gonna get run over. It was great” - Aaron Reynolds III (At GTMO 1971)
“There was always something to do at GTMO. You could watch movies, swimming, riding, bicycling, walking, or just hanging out…My favorite thing to do was riding horses. My younger sister henry and I would go down to the family corral and we rode horses all the time.”- Dee Riley (At GTMO 1960-1965)
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