Historic Fort Snelling
Historic Fort Snelling
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
With a human history more than 10,000 years in the making, the area today known as Fort Snelling means different things to different people. Explore the past through tours, demonstrations, and conversations that expand the diverse stories of the women, men, and children who crossed paths here—from the Dakota, who call the land Bdote, to other Native American groups who lived and worked here, to enslaved people, immigrants, fur traders, and soldiers.
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4.5
236 reviews
Excellent
151
Very good
71
Average
13
Poor
1
Terrible
0
dmittleman
Palm Beach Gardens, FL1,413 contributions
Aug 2021
Caution is required here. Historic Fort Snelling is different than Fort Snelling Park. They are not the same. The fort is closed on the weekends so access is not possible. The barracks are under renovation. Signage is minimal so it's hard to distinguish what you are seeing.
Written 15 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shoelu
Minneapolis, MN312 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
The Fort is worth seeing, the museum exhibits are really terrific and there's so much to learn about while there. It's an important area and deserves respect and remembrance for sure. My 3 star rating has to do with the guided tour, which is only one hour long but really should be 1.5 hours long. We felt rushed and due to the short time frame and large group of people (25 -30 in our group), the guide was often half way through his speech at a stop before many in the group arrived, so many of us missed much of the information. I was with my mother who is ambulatory but needs a wheelchair for long distances. We were able to catch a little shuttle to get from the parking lot to the museum ticket office. We had to ask for it as it wasn't running automatically but the staff were really nice about it. We used a free wheelchair provided by Fort Snelling and it was in good working condition. The gravel paths were manageable and she was able get to most places, but there were a few tricky spots.
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cooperton
Conroy, IA134 contributions
May 2022 • Family
This was a place that everyone in our group enjoyed. We had 8 in our party (4 parents and 4 kids- 18, 15, 15, 12). The youngest in our group was thrilled with the hands on activities including art, music, old fashioned games, baseball, and clothes washing. There was also a language school and other demonstrations. It was Memorial Fay weekend so I’m guessing not all these activities are on-going. It took at least 3 hours for us to cover it all. Staff were helpful and informative. Gift shop was also great. A great place to visit for all of us.
Written 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brendan S
Arlington, VA2,151 contributions
Jul 2021 • Solo
I have toured many forts, but while Fort Snelling lacks the physically-imposing defenses of other forts, it brings to life the frontier lifestyle 150 years ago. Most of the Fort was dismantled long ago, but it was faithfully reconstructed to look like it did. A series of informational plaques explain the different buildings, and there are small exhibits on archaeology and 19th century medicine (not for the squeamish). There are also firearm demonstrations. Also, while this fort was a functional structure and never saw a battle, it is historic as the site where enslaved Dred Scott began his unsuccessful quest for freedom that led to an infamous Supreme Court decision and the Civil War. His quarters at the Fort are on display.
Written 5 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SS_Forever
Dallas, TX527 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Visited the Fort when opened at 10am. Was a warmer day so did not stay and visit all it had to offer so mainly concentrated on the fort. Was very surprised to find being a native American I got free entry with up to 5 people. We started by the river view from the parking lot to see the timeline and walk the path with all the beautiful flowers. It smelled so great. Walk to the fort was short and on concrete. It was great to find MN Historical Society had people stationed all around the fort to give you the history. Of many of the forts we visited this one had the most articles to see besides the buildings and cannons. They said they have made many of them based on readings and picture's to try and share what might have been used. We grab the shuttle cart for the ride back. There was also a chapel and barracks but we did not view them has had a lunch date.
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TaurusMom
Iowa719 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
The website is really vague and confusing. I was surprised when we arrived as to what there would be to actually see. I had no idea there were slaves in Minnesota, and that Dred Scott was a slave here. My 82-year-old father was with us, so we only stayed about two hours, but we will be back to see the rest of the fort and the Riverwalk.
Written 29 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smsmissy
Saint Louis, MO126 contributions
Jul 2021
What a wonderful experience! Our entire family really enjoyed Fort Snelling. I really loved how they used PC terms to describe the indigenous peoples and enslaved people who helped support the success of the Fort. Because of covid there were no reenactments but the staff were very informative and more than willing to answer any questions we had. There was a shuttle to get you to and from the Fort if you are not able to walk that far.
Tip- if you or a family member are active military or a veteran, that person, plus 5 people can get in free. Same goes if you are native american/indigenous. So cool!
Tip- if you or a family member are active military or a veteran, that person, plus 5 people can get in free. Same goes if you are native american/indigenous. So cool!
Written 14 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rikmsp
Saint Paul, MN58 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
On the precipice of the MN and Mississippi Rivers is FT Snelling. The fort is truly one of a kind. From the actors that dress in the uniforms from the black smith and bakery that are in use.
The last Fort acting Col. Custer visited before embarking on his fateful mission against the Sioux.
Don't forget the rock candy or the pine gum in the general store for a taste of the past.
The last Fort acting Col. Custer visited before embarking on his fateful mission against the Sioux.
Don't forget the rock candy or the pine gum in the general store for a taste of the past.
Written 3 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DanielleF135
Minneapolis, MN18 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
We were expecting to go tour some old buildings, read some information signs, watch an informational movie... We figured it would be interesting, but not entertaining. We were definitely wrong though! Our visit was very entertaining and we will gladly go back! There were demonstrations every half hour ranging from cooking and school work to infantry demonstrations and the cannon firing. We were even fortunate enough to watch them skin a raccoon... which some of the kids loved! (I wasn't a huge fan of that part! Luckily, I don't think it's a common occurrence!) Any way, the kids loved it (9 and 11), I loved it, and it was a great place to spend a summer day!
Written 22 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda A
Minneapolis, MN69 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
so yeah, you can be part of the military, watched a meal being served, hear a cannon being fired, buy something from the sutler - and all the while you are being entertained you are being educated about the beginning of white settlements in Minnesota (it wasn't so great for our native people to be honest). You will learn about military life on the frontier in the 1820's & 30's, the class differences between officers and enlisted men, the role of women, great exhibits about Dred Scott and his wife and their important place in history and a gruesome but wonderful exhibit about medicine in the era. This is how history should be taught - hands on, with lots of sights, sounds, tastes & smells. And the staff and volunteers are terrific.
Written 1 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would like to have a picnic after touring Fort Snelling. Should we stay near the fort, or go into the state park?
Written 31 May 2016
I'm not certain what Fort Snelling itself has for public amenities, but the state park is very nice and has gazebos, restrooms, picnic tables, biking paths, walking paths, lakes, and rivers.
Written 31 May 2016
Is there a main event with soldiers marching/speaking this weekend?
If so, may I have the date/time of event.
Written 22 May 2015
ok I went to the web and this is the phone number and you can call The Fort and ask directly (612)7261171
Written 24 May 2015
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