By 1895, buildings at the Fort had begun to deteriorate, and Minnesotans began to discuss what should be done with the historic site. Beginning in the late 1930s, the Minnesota Historical Society began interpreting the round tower as a museum, which lasted until the Fort was retired from military service in 1946, and what remained of the site was turned over to the Veterans Administration. It wasn’t until 1956, when plans for a highway that would disrupt the historical site were launched, that serious conversations about preservation of the site began. Initial archaeological exploration in 1958 deemed that the site could be restored, despite the damage that had already occurred. In 1965, funds for a complete reconstruction of the Fort were approved by the state legislature, and the restoration began in 1966. 

Since that time, the Minnesota Historical Society has gone through a number of changes in how it chooses to represent the Fort, specifically regarding the discussion of Dakota people and the U.S.-Dakota War. Four years ago panels outside the fort were added, which discuss the executions at Fort Snelling as well as the Dakota concentration camp (referred to as an internment camp by MHS). They've also added six additional panels to the area interpreted as the Indian Agency, which specifically address the U.S.-Dakota War. Still, there is much room for improvement. There has been an ongoing discussion of how to represent Dakota people, and the Minnesota Historical Society is certainly aware that there is still much room for change. What makes the issue difficult is that there are numerous opinions about what should be done with the Fort and how Dakota people should be represented, and it’s nearly impossible to fairly determine whose opinion matters, and whose voice should be listened to. As evidenced by the narratives section of this project, this site has drastically different meanings for different people, and is a site of both genesis and genocide for Dakota people. Whose story should be explored at the site and how should it be told? These are questions that the Minnesota Historical Society continues to grapple with.