This year, visitors to Historic Fort Snelling will notice things are a little bit different beginning with a discounted grounds pass admission of $8. 

As construction for a revitalized Historic Fort Snelling continues in 2021, visitors will be able to explore the historic fort on their own using a self-guided storybook that connects the stories of 17 individuals with various places around the fort. Learn about:

• Charlie Goddard, who lied about his age (he was 15) in order to enlist to fight in the Civil War, 
• William H. Howard, a private who served in segregated units and performed as a musician when not fighting in WWI, 
• and Terry Toyome Nakanishi, who joined the Women’s Army Corps and was stationed at the Military Intelligence Language School at Fort Snelling during WWII.

In addition, staff will be available to answer questions and provide historical background, and new outdoor interpretive signage will expand the stories of enslaved people, archaeology and building history. Musket demonstrations will be offered daily.

The grounds pass includes access inside the walls of the historic fort, restrooms, and museum store. Due to social distancing protocols, all other buildings are temporarily closed.

Hours and Admission
Historic Fort Snelling opens for the season on June 4, 2021. Hours are:

• June 4 to Sept. 4, 2021, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 5 to Oct. 23, select Saturdays (Sept. 11, 25, Oct. 9, and 23), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

An $8 grounds pass can be purchased online or through the box office at 651-259-3015 beginning May 27, 2021. A limited number of tickets will be available for walk-ups. 

This year MNHS will once again participate in Blue Star Museums, a national program that provides free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families. Also, Historic Fort Snelling offers free general admission to all military veterans, plus up to five accompanying family members, and to Native Americans and Indigenous peoples from Canada.

Visit the website for all hours and admission categories.

Historic Fort Snelling Revitalization
The Historic Fort Snelling revitalization project includes a dynamic new visitor center with a 4,000-square-foot exhibit inside a rehabilitated 1904 cavalry barracks; landscaping that provides opportunities for outdoor learning, reflection and commemoration; and improved parking, wayfinding and access. In 2021 the site will remain open during construction with a grand reopening planned for 2022. Learn more at www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/revitalization.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. Visit us at mnhs.org.