Address: 200 Tower Ave, Saint Paul, MN , 55111
Upcoming Events: Jump to Historic Fort Snelling Events
Website Historic Fort Snelling
Phone 612-726-1171
Fall Thurs-Sat, 10am-4pm
Admission $8-$12
Historic Fort Snelling, located near the airport, sits on a juncture of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers and is managed by the Minnesota Historical Society (“MNHS”). Although it sits on Fort Snelling State Park, the historic site is run by the Minnesota Historical Society and has a separate entrance fee. It was built as a frontier outpost in the early 1820s, and eventually evolved into a military training facility from the Civil War through World War II. Families can learn about military history, fur trade, slavery in Minnesota, the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 and other historical eras. While the fort itself is nearing its 200th birthday, the location has been significant for centuries to many American Indian communities with human history dating back 10,000 years.
Explore historic Fort Snelling with kids through living history activities
Ways to save on admission to Historic Fort Snelling
- Blue Star Museums Program. Free admission for military families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.
- History-Connects. The Minnesota Historical Society’s limited income program offers discounted admission to visitors enrolled in one or more assistance program. This includes the higher-income-threshold programs, like WIC and MA.
- Museums On Us. This program gives Bank of America cardholders free entry during the first full weekend of each month.
- Become an MNHS member. Not only will you receive FREE admission to this historic site, you’ll also receive FREE admission to museums and historic sites all over the state.
Add a little historical research to your visit
An Army Fifth Regiment order book from 1826-1827 was recently donated to the Minnesota Historical Society. This handwritten book details daily life at the fort during some of the first years. At the time, the fort was commanded by its namesake, Col. Josiah Snelling, and soldiers’ duties included protecting U.S. interests in the fur trade and serving as a bulwark against British forces in Canada. MNHS’ already owned manuscripts collections covering earlier years, 1819-1824, in Fort Snelling’s history. Before visiting or after visiting the fort, it could be fun to read excerpts of the order books. They can be found digitally online here.
More information
- Ticket link: Find events at Fort Snelling & purchase tickets
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Share Your Experience/Tips:
We would love to hear your thoughts and parental tips. Share your experiences and any information you think other parents would find useful. Leave us a comment below.Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
- Memorial Day at the Fort - 05/25/2026 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Juneteenth at the Fort - 06/19/2026 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Free Admission Day at Historic Fort Snelling - 06/27/2026 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
Events TBA
Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.
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