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 and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. 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

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County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

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

April 18, 2022

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

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 . . .
1. Wikipedia article on the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. (Submitted on July 25, 2018, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)
2. Minnesota SP Minnesota State Public School for... - National Archives NextGen Catalog. (Submitted on May 30, 2024.)

Additional keywords. Orphanage

<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 October 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2018, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 572 times since then and 20 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.