Root Cellar

Root Cellar (HM2N2E)

Location:
Buy flags at Flagstore.com!

N 48° 29.88', W 109° 47.646'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 235 views
Inscription

Fort Assinniboine

Before refrigeration, rural Americans preserved perishables in root cellars. The fort's first root cellar, a 100-by-20- foot structure, was built in 1879-80. In 1902 the government invested $3,900 (about $237,000 in 2011 dollars) to replace the original root cellar with three identical structures at the southeast end of the parade ground. Only the southernmost wood, cement, and sod building remains intact. Built into the hillside, the 25-by-75-foot structure has walls 18-by-24-inch thick. To take advantage of dirt's insulating qualities, only the entry is aboveground and the center section's arched top is covered with sod. Three small wood-framed ventilation shafts circulate enough air to keep produce fresh. Hinged double-entry doors open onto a small vestibule, further protecting the main storage area from temperature extremes. The cellar stored the fort's garden bounty as well as purchased provisions. Each infantry and cavalry company had its own gardeners. In large irrigated fields bordering Beaver Creek, they grew thirty different crops. Troop-grown potatoes, turnips, corn, onions, carrots, squash, apples, garlic, and rutabagas all wintered well in the root cellars, improving the health and quality of meals at the fort.
Details
HM NumberHM2N2E
Tags
Placed ByMontana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 at 10:01am PST -08:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)12U E 589084 N 5372355
Decimal Degrees48.49800000, -109.79410000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 48° 29.88', W 109° 47.646'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds48° 29' 52.8" N, 109° 47' 38.76" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Closest Postal AddressAt or near , ,
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Nearby Markersshow on map
Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. What country is the marker located in?
  2. Is this marker part of a series?
  3. What historical period does the marker represent?
  4. What historical place does the marker represent?
  5. What type of marker is it?
  6. What class is the marker?
  7. What style is the marker?
  8. Does the marker have a number?
  9. What year was the marker erected?
  10. This marker needs at least one picture.
  11. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  12. Is the marker in the median?