Although only open for fourteen years, Fort Ridgely drastically impacted the State of Minnesota and the American frontier. Through its short tenure as a military post, Fort Ridgely’s soldiers, their wives, and the accompanying civilians contributed to the transformation of this region.
Built on land that was once the traditional ancestral home of the Dakota, Fort Ridgely saw conflict with the Dakota, was home to men, women, and even slaves.
This exhibit explores and gives voice to the diverse populations that experienced Fort Ridgely.