"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Step Into Minnesota’s Past at Historic Fort Snelling 🏰🌊
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Standing high above the meeting point of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, Fort Snelling is often called the most historic place in Minnesota—and for good reason. ✨ Established in 1820, this military outpost witnessed nearly every chapter of the state’s story, from early frontier life to the Civil War and beyond. Originally built to secure the U.S. presence in the Upper Midwest, Fort Snelling became a crossroads of cultures—home to soldiers, traders, enslaved people, and Dakota communities whose history in the region stretches back centuries. 🪶📜 Today, visitors can explore the restored fort, complete with costumed interpreters, hands-on exhibits, and demonstrations that bring the 19th century to life. ⚔️🕰️ The site also serves as a place of remembrance and reflection, honoring both the triumphs and tragedies that shaped Minnesota’s history. 🕯️💙 Stroll the scenic trails, take in views of the rivers, and stop by the Visitor Center, where interactive displays share stories of the people who lived and served here. 🌿👣 Whether you’re a history buff, a family traveler, or a proud Minnesotan, Fort Snelling offers a powerful connection to the state’s roots and enduring spirit. 🌄🏛️ By the way, Fort Snelling's ownership/identification is complicated. The fort is part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. The Department of Natural Resources manages the surrounding Fort Snelling State Park. The Minnesota Historical Society owns the fort itself. And the Fort Snelling National Cemetery is managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ok, take a breath! "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” Classic Rock song: "Dances with Wolves” soundtrack Please email me about road trip experiences in the US you’d like to learn about! Here is the Premium Subscription page: You will get early views of new blog posts, one extra weekly newsletter, and views of all past published newsletters. And occasionally, I'll ask for votes on content! Stan Featured Post: Here’s a post in Southeastern Minnesota along the Mississippi River. |
Stan Wiebe
"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Two of my four stops weren’t open! ☹ And the visitor center was closed on the third one. More ☹ However, Horseshow Bend made up for some of it! And Little River Canyon’s scenic drive was likely what I was going to see, even if the visitor center had been open. Oh, by the way. Here’s the link to the preview post about this trip. Sloss Furnace National Historic Landmark Sloss Furnace dates back to the 1800s when steel processing began here. The current 32-acre historic site preserves the...
Yes, I visited six places today AND drove on a National Park-supported trail! Here’s a quick rundown and a few pictures to go with it. Too many to include pictures for every stop. Oh, by the way. Here’s the link to the preview post about this trip. Upon leaving Hattiesburg, MS, this morning, I set up my GPS for the places I wanted to see. I knew most of them were relatively quick stops. Hot Coffee, MS While traveling, I look for strange, odd, unusual places and objects. There actually is a...
So. What do they have in common? Typically, you would say hitting the beach at Normandy. Well, I didn’t hit that beach, but I did hit the beach in Gulfport, MS! Oh, not the same. Sorry, Normandy was necessary for the war effort. After “hitting the beach” at Gulfport, I decided I didn’t need to see much more beach. Ok, I’ll just drive on to Biloxi, not that far. When arriving in Biloxi, I saw a sign that said “Mobile – 60 miles.” Ok, that’s not very far, so I headed that way. About an hour...