Fort Snelling is a military installation in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area (actually an unorganized municipality within the metro of about 500 people) that was originally commissioned pre-civil war in 1820 as For St. Anthony through WW2, decommissioned, and recommissioned after that war. It’s at the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, and was the home base. Designed by Colonel James Snelling (who died of dysentery and “brain fever” in 1828. Many of the buildings still stand, and although in disrepair, they are now preserved as a state park. A Minnesota Star-Tribune story from June 6, 2010 notes that things were “looking up for the Fort” in terms of its preservation.

I am flying in to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, and on one of the runways as you land, you get a great, albeit brief view of the old military post buildings of brick. I’ve been fascinated with that over the years in my many take offs and landings here. My Grandfather Augustus Julius Johnson, was a native of Sweden (b.1887) and WW1 veteran-my dad was a Vietnam veteran, I’m told that’s an unusual pairing of a father and son with those 2 wars. Grandpa A.J. went on to be a Lutheran Minister in Minnesota and Nebraska, dying in 1961 and interred in the national cemetery here, so I always have a thought of him as well in my travels here. Take a look at this history the next time you’re landing at MSP.