Address Restricted, Little Falls, Minnesota. County/parish: Morrison.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places September 10, 1971. NRIS 71000439.
1 contributing site.Also known as:
Fort Ripley was a United States Army outpost on the upper Mississippi River, in mid-central Minnesota from 1848 to 1877. It was situated a few miles from the Indian agencies for the Ho-Chunk and Ojibwe in Iowa Territory and then the Minnesota Territory. Its presence spurred immigration into the area and the pioneer settlement of Crow Wing developed approximately 6.75 miles (10.86 km) north of the fort. The post was initially named Fort Marcy. It then was renamed Fort Gaines and in 1850 was renamed again for distinguished Brigadier General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley of the War of 1812. It was the second major military reservation established in what would become Minnesota.
In 1971 Fort Ripley was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its state-level significance in the historical archaeology and military history categories. It was nominated for its status as Minnesota's second major military post and for its role in maintaining peace and enabling pioneer settlement in Central Minnesota.
Camp Ripley, a training facility of the Minnesota National Guard, was established in 1929. It includes the historic site of Fort Ripley and was named in its honor. The nearby city of Fort Ripley, Minnesota, was also named for the old outpost.
(read more...)