Growth and Change at the Fort

Growth and Change at the Fort. . , Fort Snelling's size has fluctuated over the years. Most of the buildings around you were constructed during war campaigns, which brought many new people to the fort. Some of these buildings were temporary, built to last between five and twenty years. The fort's permanent buildings were stone and brick, and many have lasted over 130 years., 1898-1902 , Barracks on Taylor Avenue, 1905, Minnesota Historical Society, Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War, Most of the Upper Post's stone and brick buildings were constructed during the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine-American War (1899-1902). New barracks were added to house infantry, cavalry, and artillery units at Fort Snelling., 1917-1919 , Aerial of Fort Snelling barracks area, 1936 Minneapolis Star Tribune Journal Tribune, Minnesota Historical Society, World War I, During World War I, Fort Snelling was an officers' training school and processing center for thousands of recruits. The Army constructed dozens of temporary buildings, nicknamed the "Turkey Farm" by soldiers, on land that is now part of the airport., 1940-1945 , Receiving battalion headquarters, Reception Center, Fort Snelling, c. 1942, Minnesota Historical Society, World War II, In September 1940, Fort Snelling became an Army reception center, service members came here to be outfitted, trained, and sent off to join their units. At the center's peak in 1942, the fort inducted 800 soldiers every day. Over 300,000 men and women moved through the fort during the war., Early in the war, most of the new soldiers lived in the World War I-era "Turkey Farm." In 1943, the Army added 300 new temporary structures to the reception center. In 1945, many of the buildings were repurposed into a separation center, where service members could turn in their uniforms and equipment and return to civilian life., Top background image: Aerial of Fort Snelling barracks area, 1936, Minneapolis Star Journal, Minnesota Historical Society