Fort Ripley is an abandoned former United States outpost in Morrison County, Minnesota. Fort Ripley which has changed names over the course of its existence got its final name Ripley from Brigadier general Eleazer Wheelock Ripley (commander during the civil war). Fort Marcy and Fort Gaines are some of the other names that the fort had before Ripley.

History of the Fort

Fort Ripley outpost construction began in1848 and was completed in 1849. The fort’s major drive for its construction was to oversee annuity payments at the natives’ reservations that were established nearby. It was also intended to bring peace between the two hostile Santee Dakota and Chippewa communities. Just like the other forts built in rural areas, soldiers at Fort Ripley lived in a challenging environment. The region was dominated by mosquitoes during the summers and extremely cold winters. In the early years, there were no roads connecting the fort to reservations and other nearby communities. Before the approval and construction of the five military roads, soldiers from the fort had to trek long undulating terrain to oversee peace in the region.

Role of Fort in defense of United States

Fort Ripley's military intensified only during the civil war and the Dakota war. During the war, troops from the fort were sent to fight the enemies leaving only a handful of soldiers to guard the fort. The civil war was not a challenge for the well-trained soldiers and they were able to subdue the enemies before they got to the fort. The Dakota war which came later gave the fort a run for its purpose. Several threats of attack from various communities made the work of the soldiers difficult when civilians in hundreds flocked the fort for safety. Troops were added to the fort in readiness for war but this never happened. Instead, attacks were directed to fort Ridgely where the commander of the fort was killed.

What led to the decline of the Fort?

Over the decades, Fort Ripley and the neighboring communities were peaceful until 1877. An outrageous fire outbreak destroyed and grounded at least three buildings in the fort. The fort was never rebuilt by the war department leading to its decommission and rejection. The rebuilding was never done since the department of war believed the fort had fought its fight hence it was time to close its doors permanently.

Fort Ripley today

The Fort has been abandoned since its closure and the property’s door shut for non-military personnel. Most of the old buildings as well as the burned structures have been demolished. Today, a major section of the Fort has been abandoned and is in dis-use while some areas are used as a training camp for US coastal guards. The area is out of bounds for the general public.