Fort Snelling

Interpretation of Fort Snelling

Fort Snelling, as run by the Minnesota Historical Society, is currently interpreted as an 1820s site. The Historical Society's most popular tourist attraction, Fort Snelling holds tours for families and school trips throughout the summer into September and October.

For students visiting on field trips, the educational tour moves through eight stations at the site: the front gate, schoolhouse, married quarters for women, parade ground, commanding officers' quarters, the Indian Agency, the hospital, Dred Scott's quarters, and the blacksmith shop.

There is not a single mention on the tour of how this Bdote region is sacred to the Dakota people. Numerous members of the Dakota Nation have spoken out against this interpretation, and have protested to have their history included in the interpretation of the fort.

As it stands, there is only one part of the tour that references the Dakota and other indigenous groups: the Indian Agency, where the fur trade is heavily discussed, but with only passing mention of a concentration camp or any injustice. 

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