Fort Snelling in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Commanding Officer’s House

Original Structure (About 1822)

Photographed by Connor Olson, August 31, 2024

1. Commanding Officer’s House Marker

Inscription.

For most of the 1820s through the 1940s, the fort's commanding officers lived here with their families.

Commanding officers' servants lived here, too. Before the Civil War, more than half were enslaved.

In 1903, the house was updated in the Spanish mission style. It gained a second story, yellow stucco, and a red slate roof.

Commanding officers lived in this house on Taylor Avenue from 1879 until 1911, when it burned down.

It was about twice the size of the original commanding officer's house.

Captions:
Works Progress Administration crew working on the grounds near the commanding officer's house, March 1939.
Officers of the 21st Infantry and their wives at a reception for Adm. Winfield Schley, April 9, 1903. Courtesy Hennepin County Library
This photo shows how the commanding officer's house looked just before its 1903 update.

Erected by Minnesota Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.

Location. 44° 53.569′ N, 93° 10.788′ W. Marker is in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It can be reached from Tower Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Tower Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55417, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Officers’ Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Enlisted Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hospital (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); River Valleys Take Shape / A Strategic Advantage / Making a Safe Landing (about 400 feet away); Working Women of Fort Snelling (about 400 feet away); The Sutler Store (about 400 feet away); The Schoolhouse (about 500 feet away); Gatehouse and Guardhouse (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Snelling.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2024, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 18 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 2, 2024, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.