Owatonna in Steele County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children

Photographed By McGhiever, July 29, 2013

1. Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children marker

Inscription. This property has been placed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of Interior
Listed as historic district: December 28, 2010

This post-civil war public institution played an important role in the development of child welfare policies. In operation from 1886 until 1945, the school was considered a state-of-the-art facility. It was created to mitigate poor conditions of almshouses and limit children's exposure to criminal, mentally ill and physically ill adults.

Superintendent Galen Merrill served as Superintendent from 1886 until his death in 1934, and played a pivotal role in the national discussion on child welfare. Merrill's pioneering efforts helped spearhead the development of Minnesota Child Welfare Laws enacted in the Progressive Era.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 44° 5.364′ N, 93° 14.267′ W. Marker is in Owatonna, Minnesota, in Steele County. Marker is on West Hills Circle, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the flag plaza opposite the main administration building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 540 West Hills Circle, Owatonna MN 55060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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. State Schoolers U.S. Military Memorial (here, next to this marker); Main Building (a few steps from this marker); State Public School for Dependent & Neglected Children 1886 - 1945 (a few steps from this marker); State School Buildings and Grounds (within shouting distance of this marker); There Were Many...I Was But One (within shouting distance of this marker); History of State School Rock Garden (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); History of the State School Root Cellar (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of the State Public School Children’s Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Owatonna.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. (Submitted on July 25, 2018, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Additional keywords. Orphanage

April 18, 2022

2. Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children Marker

<i>Owatonna State School, Owatonna.</i> image. Click for full size.

John Runk, Jr. (photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society), circa 1895

3. Owatonna State School, Owatonna.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2018, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 25, 2018, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2. submitted on April 29, 2022. 3. submitted on July 27, 2018. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.