The Fort Snelling Upper Bluff:
Named one of the nation's
Eleven Most Endangered Places
by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
On May 10, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Upper Post region of Fort Snelling, also known as the Upper Bluff, as one of the eleven most critically endangered historic sites in the country. This 141 acre site was developed starting in the 1870s, and continued in operation until after World War II, but the buildings have been largely abandoned in recent decades.
The 28 remaining buildings, just east of the Twin Cities airport and north of Highway 5, are in various states of disrepair, but almost all are decaying rapidly and many are now so dangerous as to be uninhabitable.
Bonnie McDonald of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, which helps preserve historic site and which had earlier placed the Upper Bluff on their list of most endangered sites in Minnesota. Click here for a story on the Preservation Alliance's earlier designation. | 
Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, who obtained the BRAC grant to help save thebuildings, speaks in from of one of the old barracks. Note the missing and boarded-up windows and the roof damage. | 
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin outside the boarded-up Building 152, one of the old Officer's Quarters buildings. | |||
Inside building 152: A graceful staircase falls into decay. | 
Stephen Osman, former director of Historic Fort Snelling (right) discusses the state of the buildings with Minnesota Public Radio reporter William Wilcoxen. You can visit Wilcoxen's May 10 report here. | 
Officer's Row. Originally there were five houses following the plan of building 151; it is now the only one remaining. The photo shows portions of buildings 153-154. Seven buildings were originally built to the plan of building 153; only four now survive. | |||
Another view of Building 152. Note again the state of the roof and windows. In addition, portions of the floor have fallen in; it is no longer safe to enter the building. | 
The exterior of Building 151, the Bachelor Officers' Quarters. This is one of the sturdier buildings -- but note the plants growing out of the walls! | ||||
The entrance hall of Building 151. | 
One of the rooms off the entrance to building 151 | ||||
Click here for additional photos of the Upper Bluff, including some buildings not shown here. The photos are by Tom Dolan and used with his permission.