Inscription
ECONOMIC ENGINE
With hundreds of men and some 175 horses, the garrison had a gargantuan appetite for wood, hay, grain, corn, and beef. Unable to meet the requirements of the post through any direct federal supply system, the War Department issued contracts to civilian suppliers offering the lowest bids. For years, this system made Fort Ridgely the best market in the Minnesota River valley for farmers and businessmen.
The post also provided much-appreciated services to the community. The army surgeons treated and sold medicines to area residents. Mail could be picked up or dropped off at the fort. Groceries and a variety of goods could be purchased at the sutler's store. Local farmers could use the post's slaughterhouse (located one mile from Ridgely) and buy lumber from the post's sawmill.
Getting Here
From 1853 to 1856, steamboats were the principal mode of transportation for military personnel and supplies going to and from Fort Ridgely. The presence of the post and increasing white settlement led Congress to improve and build new military roads in the territory. By 1858, land routes had mostly replaced the water routes to the fort.
Fort Ridgely
Details
| HM Number | HM1CTU |
|---|---|
| Series | This marker is part of the Minnesota: Fort Ridgely Interpretive Series series, and the Minnesota Historical Society series. |
| Tags | |
| Historical Period | 19th Century |
| Historical Place | Park, Monument, Military Installation, Fort, Battlefield |
| Marker Type | Other |
| Marker Class | Neither |
| Marker Style | Free Standing |
| Placed By | Minnesota Historical Society |
| Marker Condition | No reports yet |
| Date Added | Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 at 9:02am PDT -07:00 |
Pictures
Photo Credits: [1] MARTHA DECKER [2] MARTHA DECKER
Locationbig map
| UTM (WGS84 Datum) | 15T E 361961 N 4923667 |
|---|---|
| Decimal Degrees | 44.45313333, -94.73498333 |
| Degrees and Decimal Minutes | N 44° 27.188', W 94° 44.099' |
| Degrees, Minutes and Seconds | 44° 27' 11.2800" N, 94° 44' 5.9400" W |
| Driving Directions | Google Maps |
| Area Code(s) | 507 |
| Can be seen from road? | Yes |
| Is marker in the median? | No |
| Which side of the road? | Marker is on the right when traveling West |
| Closest Postal Address | At or near 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax MN 55332, US |
| Alternative Maps | Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap |
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Show me all markers in: Fairfax, MN | Nicollet County | 55332 | Minnesota | United States of America
Maintenance Issues
- This marker could use another picture or two.
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