Fort Ridgely

Excavating the Site of Old Fort Ridgely

Smith , Hubert G.
This article reports on the results of a 1936 excavation and study of the remains of Fort Ridgely, a fort constructed in 1853 along the Minnesota River near New Ulm. Details are presented concerning the excavation of the barracks and other structures, as well as the restoration of the commissary building. Information discovered relating to Indian occupation of the site is described, including burial mounds, pottery fragments, and flint implements.

A Frontier Fort at Peacetime

Smith , Hubert G.
This article discusses Fort Ridgely, concentrating on its lesser known history before and after the Sioux Uprising of 1862. Built in 1853, along the Minnesota River upriver from present-day New Ulm, the fort was intended to provide military protection for the Upper Minnesota River following the Sioux treaties of 1851. The author describes daily life at the fort, relying on primary sources including letters, reports, and journals.

Minnesota as Seen by Travelers: Up the Minnesota Valley to Fort Ridgely in 1853

Babcock, Willoughby M.
This piece presents a report, originally published in the May 7, 1853 issues of the Minnesotian and most likely written by its editor John P. Owens, of a trip by steamer up the Minnesota River to Fort Ridgely. Observations include the serpentine character of the river and numerous snags encountered the presence of farms and newly formed towns along the route, and the nature of the land at the confluence with the Cottonwood River. The author of the report was impressed by the agricultural and mineral resources of the valley, commenting on farming lands, timber, water, and stone.
Subscribe to Fort Ridgely