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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-10 PACKET 06.A. TO: Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation FROM: John M. Burbank, Senior Planner DATE: July 2, 2018 RE: Military Road Informational Signage Introduction As a component of the Ravine Parkway construction project, informational signage will be provided along the newly created Military Road Historical Trail Corridor. Background The City’s 2018 Planning Intern, Max Pattsner, has researched the road and provided a rough draft of signage copy. Discussion The ACHP should review the document and discuss. Recommendation That the ACHP review the information and provide feedback and comments to Staff. Attachments Military Road Draft Signage Copy Military Road Draft Signage PowerPoint This road is a piece of the old Military Road, one of five territorial roads in north until they separate just south of this point in Cottage Grove.roads originate at Point Douglas in Washington County and are concurrent as they travel The five major military roads of the Minnesota Territory. Fort Ripley and St. Louis River Military Road Northwest along the Red River Valley.sissippi and St. Croix Rivers, in and around Fort Snelling, and in the far s white settlers before 1850 lived along the southern Mis-’Most of Minnesota were used to great effect to transport American troops directly to the frontier, military roads Dakota War of 1862-U.S.tribes. During the Sioux and Ojibwaallowed the U.S. military to access frontier areas and deter raids by the nearby were also vital for protecting these new arrivals; as the name suggests, the roads During this era of great westward expansion, military roads were often the quick- cite the early Minnesota document\]\[For all of this, opened up for settlers and homesteaders, larger roads were needed. Native Americans were adequate for their own purposes, but for the land to be ). The trails that were being used by loggers, fur trappers, and local 69-the West, 68(Opening moving American settlers had not yet crossed northwestern Wisconsin -s, most of the westward1850’ling until 1851, as well as the fact that until the tribes still laid claim to most of the land west of Fort Snel- Chippewa and SiouxMississippi or St. Croix. Settlement was further bottlenecked by the fact that the river, meaning that nearly all settlement occurred along navigable portions of the or out of the region for all but the hardiest travelers from the south or east was by The only way into Canadian settlers in the Red River Valley. ers, along with some , while what few set-Chippewa, Sioux, and Ojibwa Indianswas then made up of what is now the Gopher State was listed as 6,077 people. Most of the population Century. In the 1850 census, the population of th 19-largely unsettled until the midspite this, the part of this territory that would become Minnesota would remain opening a vast swath of the North American continent up to American settlers. De- Minnesota Territory in 1850 colonel in the U.S. Dakota War of 1862. what is thought to be one of the first private homes in Minnesota, and fought as a 1860). Sibley also built -1853) as well as its first governor (in office 1858-1849s first territorial delegate to congress (in office ’Henry H Sibley was Minnesota Fort Ripley Road continues northwest toward St. Paul.-DouglasSt. Louis River road turning northeast toward Stillwater, while the Point -each other in Cottage Grove just southeast of here, with the Point Douglasreaches its northern terminus at Superior, WI. The two roads split off from St. Louis River Road, which follows the St. Croix River and -Douglasmiles with another road, the Point 8 or so nesota. The road shares its first Min- Central-NorthSt. Croix rivers near Prescott, WI up to Fort Ripley in Fort Ripley road, which extends from the meeting of the Mississippi and -The segment of military road you can see here is part of the Point Douglas new frontier.tlers, and gave the US military freedom of movement to better protect this Minnesota up to set-greater as a territory in 1849. Once built, they opened ernment to fund the five roads one year after Minnesota joined the nation delegate to congress, Henry H. Sibley, petitioned for the United States gov-s first territorial ’Minnesota established by Congress in 1850. Minnesota The Last Stage over the Military Road Leaving Superior in August, 1870 military standards.completed even years after their initiation in 1850, and some stretches never truly made it up to ern destination. Many of the northern sections of the roads were still incomplete or only roughly diverge in Cottage Grove just south of this point, and each follows its respective river to its north-A closer view of the Fort Ripley and St. Louis River Military Roads can be seen here. The roads ly settle.north or northeast to where they would eventual-have passed through Cottage Grove on their way tlers travelling from Wisconsin would likely s early set-’pi and St. Croix Many of Minnesotaits location near the confluence of the Mississip-Fort Ripley Road. Because of -the Point Douglaswhere the road originally split between that and St. Louis River Road, and is -Point Douglasof the stopping points one of the first major munity at the time, it was nonetheless listed as history of Cottage Grove. A small farming com-s old military roads are central to the ’Minnesota Military Road settlers in Minnesota temporarily slowed to a halt. Minnesota River Valley, and westward movement of Dakota. Many white settlers were driven out of the 600 white settlers and an unknown number of -of 400Acton Township. The resulting war claimed the lives of Dakota hunters murdered five white settlers near to a growing number of perceived injustices, a group tribes came to a head in 1862. In response kota Sioux Da-The tensions between white settlers and the local Dakota War of 1862 -U.S. flee back east. Minnesota, causing most white settlers at the time to of 1862. The war devastated much of southwestern This photo depicts white refugees of the Dakota War what to look for.prairie, they are visible only to those who know overgrowth or winding through farms and wild roads, the rest are mostly disused; hidden under were improved and used as county or local stretches, like this one through Cottage Grove, mostly of interest to historians. While some The military roads of Minnesota today are new, straighter roads.improve and were abandoned in favor of the roads were considered too crooked or difficult to s military ’mobiles was adopted, most of the stateroads for auto- s’MinnesotaPlan to update the early roads ceased. In 1920, when the Babcock available for transport, and most traffic on the 1870 a much easier and cheaper option was the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad in horseback in 1856. However, with the advent of Minnesota was even carried over the roads by in US Post/mailtowns safe from attack. The first opening Minnesota up to settlers and keeping its These early military roads were instrumental in Falling into disuse: over swampy areas. corduroy overlayMost of the cost and time of building these roads went toward bridges over rivers and al???).cleared path 100 feet wide, with a track in the center 50 feet wide for wagon travel (for re-Roads built at this time were rarely improved surfaces, though many sections consisted of $120,000.River Road alone, appropriations were increased, with the end total amounting to just over St. Louis -. After $3,000 was spent on initial surveys for the Fort DouglasLouis River Road??)these two roads (just the St. was appropriated for $15,000tially approved by congress, only s Bureau of Topographical Engineers. When the roads were ini-’War Department U.S.of the Construction of military roads in Minnesota was overseen by the Colonel John T. Albert, chief Building the roads: St. Louis River Road.-ty. This photo depicts the muddy, uneven northern terminus of the For Douglas, Minnesota Historical Socie- This road is a piece of the old Military Road, one of five territorial roads in military standards.never truly made it up to completed even years after their initiation in 1850, and some stretches the northern sections of the roads were still incomplete or only roughly and each follows its respective river to its northern destination. Many of be seen here. The roads diverge in Cottage Grove just south of this point, A closer view of the Fort Ripley and St. Louis River Military Roads can tlers in Minnesota temporarily slowed to a halt. of the Minnesota River Valley, and westward movement of set-known number of Dakota. Many white settlers were driven out 600 white settlers and an un--ing war claimed the lives of 400murdered five white settlers near Acton Township. The result-number of perceived injustices, a group of Dakota hunters tribes came to a head in 1862. In response to a growing Sioux Dakota |The tensions between white settlers and the local Dakota War of 1862 -U.S. at the time to flee back east. devastated much of southwestern Minnesota, causing most white settlers This photo depicts white refugees of the Dakota War of 1862. The war St. Louis River Road.-ern terminus of the For DouglasMinnesota Historical Society. This photo depicts the muddy, uneven north-, The Last Stage over the Military Road Leaving Superior in August, 1870 Red River Valley.and St. Croix Rivers, in and around Fort Snelling, and in the far Northwest along the s white settlers before 1850 lived along the southern Mississippi ’Most of Minnesota Grove.current as they travel north until they separate just south of this point in Cottage Louis River roads originate at Point Douglas in Washington County and are con-The five major military roads of the Minnesota Territory. Fort Ripley and St. colonel in the U.S. Dakota War of 1862. what is considered one of the first private homes in Minnesota, and fought as a 1860. Sibley also built -1853) as well as its first governor (in office 1858-1849s first territorial delegate to congress (in office ’Henry H Sibley was Minnesota to great effect to transport American troops directly to the frontier, military roads were used Dakota War of 1862-U.S.tribes. During the and OjibwaSioux lowed the U.S. military to access frontier areas and deter raids by the nearby also vital for protecting these new settlers; as the name suggests, these roads al-and cheapest solution for providing settlers access to fertile farmland. They were During this era of great westward expansion, military roads were often the quickest ment\]\[For all of this, cite the early Minnesota docu-settlement, larger roads were needed. were adequate for their purposes, but by the time the land was officially opened for The trails that were being used by loggers, fur trappers, and local Native Americans ). 69-(Opening the West, 68can settlers had not yet crossed northwestern Wisconsin moving Ameri--s, most of the westward1850’1851, as well as the fact that until the tribes still laid claim to most of the land west of Fort Snelling until pewa and SiouxChip-sissippi or St. Croix. Settlement was further bottlenecked by the fact that the er, meaning that nearly all settlement occurred along navigable portions of the Mis-out of the region for all but the hardiest travelers from the south or east was by riv-The only way into or Canadian settlers in the Red River Valley. along with some of European descent there were lived along the Mississippi or St. Croix Rivers, , while what few settlers Chippewa, Sioux, and Ojibwa Indianswas then made up of what is now the North Star State was listed as 6,077 people. Most of the population Century. In the 1850 census, the population of th 19-largely unsettled until the midHowever, the part of this territory that would become Minnesota would remain opening a vast swath of the North American continent up to American settlers. …where they would eventually settlelikely have passed through Cottage Grove on their way north or northeast to s early settlers travelling from Wisconsin would ’Road. Many of MinnesotaFort Ripley -where the road originally split between that and the Point DouglasSt. Louis River Road, and is -of the Point Douglasstopping points first major small farming community at the time, it was nonetheless listed as one of the s old military roads are central to the history of Cottage Grove. A ’Minnesota those who know what to look for.growth or winding through farms and wild prairie, they are visible only to used as county or local roads, the rest are mostly disused; hidden under over-While some stretches, like this one through Cottage Grove, were improved and The military roads of Minnesota today are mostly of interest to historians. new, straighter roads.ered too crooked or difficult to improve and were abandoned in favor of the s military roads were consid-’for automobiles was adopted, most of the stateroads s’Minnesotaroads ceased. In 1920, when the Babcock Plan to update the and cheaper option was available for transport, and most traffic on the early advent of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad in 1870 a much easier sota was even carried over the roads by horseback in 1856. However, with the in Minne- US Post/mailtlers and keeping its towns safe from attack. The first These early military roads were instrumental in opening Minnesota up to set- Falling into disuse: over swampy areas. laycorduroy over-building these roads went toward bridges over rivers and Most of the cost and time of feet wide for wagon travel (for real???).tions consisted of cleared path 100 feet wide, with a track in the center 50 Roads built at this time were rarely improved surfaces, though many sec- total amounting to just over $120,000.St. Louis River Road alone, appropriations were increased, with the end -. After $3,000 was spent on initial surveys for the Fort DouglasRoad??)these two roads (just the St. Louis River was appropriated for $15,000ical Engineers. When the roads were initially approved by congress, only s Bureau of Topograph-’War Department U.S.John T. Albert, chief of the Construction of military roads in Minnesota was overseen by the Colonel Building the roads: Fort Ripley Road continues northwest toward St. Paul.-DouglasSt. Louis River road turning northeast toward Stillwater, while the Point -each other in Cottage Grove just southeast of here, with the Point Douglasreaches its northern terminus at Superior, WI. The two roads split off from St. Louis River Road, which follows the St. Croix River and -Douglasmiles with another road, the Point 8 or so nesota. The road shares its first Min- Central-NorthSt. Croix rivers near Prescott, WI up to Fort Ripley in Fort Ripley road, which extends from the meeting of the Mississippi and -The segment of military road you can see here is part of the Point Douglas new frontier.tlers, and gave the US military freedom of movement to better protect this Minnesota up to set-greater as a territory in 1849. Once built, they opened ernment to fund the five roads one year after Minnesota joined the nation delegate to congress, Henry H. Sibley, petitioned for the United States gov-s first territorial ’Minnesota established by Congress in 1850. Minnesota Military Road Signage This road is a piece of the old Military Road, one of five territorial roads in Minnesota established by Congress in 1850. Minnesota’s first territorial delegate to congress, Henry H. Sibley, petitioned for the United States government to fund the five roads one year after Minnesota joined the nation as a territory in 1849. Once built, they opened greater Minnesota up to settlers, and gave the US military freedom of movement to better protect this new frontier. The segment of military road you can see here is part of the Point Douglas-Fort Ripley road, which extends from the meeting of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers near Prescott, WI up to Fort Ripley in North-Central Minnesota. The road shares its first 8 or so miles with another road, the Point Douglas-St. Louis River Road, which follows the St. Croix River and reaches its northern terminus at Superior, WI. The two roads split off from each other in Cottage Grove just southeast of here, with the Point Douglas-St. Louis River road turning northeast toward Stillwater, while the Point Douglas-Fort Ripley Road continues northwest toward St. Paul. Background The United States acquired the territory known as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, opening a vast swath of the North American continent up to American settlers. However, the part of this th territory that would become Minnesota would remain largely unsettled until the mid-19 Century. In the 1850 census, the population of what is now the North Star State was listed as 6,077 people. Most of the population was then made up of Chippewa, Sioux, and Ojibwa Indians, while what few settlers of European descent there were lived along the Mississippi or St. Croix Rivers, along with some Canadian settlers in the Red River Valley. The only way into or out of the region for all but the hardiest travelers from the south or east was by river, meaning that nearly all settlement occurred along navigable portions of the Mississippi or St. Croix. Settlement was further bottlenecked by the fact that the Chippewa and Sioux tribes still laid claim to most of the land west of Fort Snelling until 1851, as well as the fact that until the 1850’s, most of the westward-moving American settlers had not yet crossed northwestern Wisconsin (Opening the West, 68-69). The trails that were being used by loggers, fur trappers, and local Native Americans were adequate for their purposes, but by the time the land was officially opened for settlement, larger roads were needed. \[For all of this, cite the early Minnesota document\] During this era of great westward expansion, military roads were often the quickest and cheapest solution for providing settlers access to fertile farmland. They were also vital for protecting these new settlers; as the name suggests, these roads allowed the U.S. military to access frontier areas and deter raids by the nearby Sioux and Ojibwa tribes. During the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, military roads were used to great effect to transport American troops directly to the frontier Building the roads: Construction of military roads in Minnesota was overseen by the Colonel John T. Albert, chief of the U.S. War Department’s Bureau of Topographical Engineers. When the roads were initially approved by congress, only $15,000 was appropriated for these two roads (just the St. Louis River Road??). After $3,000 was spent on initial surveys for the Fort Douglas-St. Louis River Road alone, appropriations were increased, with the end total amounting to just over $120,000. Roads built at this time were rarely improved surfaces, though many sections consisted of cleared path 100 feet wide, with a track in the center 50 feet wide for wagon travel (for real???). Most of the cost and time of building these roads went toward bridges over rivers and corduroy overlay over swampy areas. Falling into disuse: These early military roads were instrumental in opening Minnesota up to settlers and keeping its towns safe from attack. The first US Post/mail in Minnesota was even carried over the roads by horseback in 1856. However, with the advent of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad in 1870 a much easier and cheaper option was available for transport, and most traffic on the early roads ceased. In 1920, when the Babcock Plan to update the Minnesota’s roads for automobiles was adopted, most of the state’s military roads were considered too crooked or difficult to improve and were abandoned in favor of the new, straighter roads. The military roads of Minnesota today are mostly of interest to historians. While some stretches, like this one through Cottage Grove, were improved and used as county or local roads, the rest are mostly disused; hidden under overgrowth or winding through farms and wild prairie, they are visible only to those who know what to look for. Minnesota’s old military roads are central to the history of Cottage Grove. A small farming community at the time, it was nonetheless listed as one of the first major stopping points of the Point Douglas-St. Louis River Road, and is where the road originally split between that and the Point Douglas-Fort Ripley Road. Many of Minnesota’s early settlers travelling from Wisconsin would likely have passed through Cottage Grove on their way north or northeast to where they would eventually settle… Citations and Resources for Military Road Historical Signage 1856 Minnesota Territory Sectional Map Citation: Chapman, Silas. Chapman's new sectional map of Minnesota. Milwaukee, Wis.: Dyer & Pasmore, 1856. Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/00555311/>. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4140.ct001627/ Plat Book of Washington County Hudson Map Company, and James F Simonet. Plat book of Washington County, Minnesota: showing township plats, city and village plats, sub-division plats, and county map: compiled from official records. Minneapolis, Minn.: Hudson Map Co, 1938. Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2007633510/>. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4143wm.gla00083/?st=gallery Ramsey and Washington Counties 1887 Map C.M. Foote & Co, Wm Bracher, and F Bourquin. Map of Ramsey and Washington counties: with adjacent portions of Anoka, Dakota & Hennepin counties, Minnesota, and parts of St. Croix & Pierce counties, Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minn.: C.M. Foote & Co, 1887. Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2012593067/>. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4143r.la000381/?r=0.409,0.734,0.657,0.374,0 1860 Minnesota Sectional Map Sewall, J. S. Sectional map of the surveyed portion of Minnesota and north western part of Wisconsin. \[St. Paul, Minn.: D.D. Merrill, Randall & Co., 186, 1860\] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/96680700/>. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4140.ct001621/?r=0.625,0.916,0.138,0.079,0 Map of Government Roads 1854 http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/largerimage.php?irn=10390905&catirn=10643404&return=br and=cms&q=military%20road&startindex=- 24&type\[\]=Maps%20%26%20atlases&yearrange=1794-1890 Henry Hastings Sibley Image https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Hastings_Sibley2.jpg Last Stage Over Military Road, Superior, WI http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display.php?irn=10730475&return=q%3Dmilitary%2520road Major Howard Stansbury http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display.php?irn=10790453&return=q%3Dmilitary%2520road Roads and the Settlement of Minnesota http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/21/v21i03p225-244.pdf Point Douglas – St. Louis River Stone Arch Bridge http://www.startribune.com/the-county-line-minnesota-s-first-road-project/282952251/ Opening the West – Military Roads in General https://books.google.com/books?id=7LHM9K- EoNoC&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=minnesota+military+roads&source=bl&ots=JasCsEOhPp&sig= hTy7n2- AftrLEc0eTh62XwGS3D4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjRuezCnb_bAhWi3YMKHSMnB4Q4ChDoA QheMA4#v=onepage&q=minnesota%20military%20roads&f=false Settlement maps come from this book: Wisconsin 1850 – Pg. 64 Iowa 1850 – Pg. 67 Iowa 1860 – Pg. 68 Streets.mn Military Roads Article https://streets.mn/2018/02/09/a-history-of-minnesotas-highways-part-one/ US in 1849 Map https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_1849-1850.png Refugees from the Dakota War https://truewestmagazine.com/remembering-the-dakota-war-in-minnesota/ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dakota_War_of_1862-stereo-right.jpg Henry H Sibley: First private residence in Minnesota: http://www.sibley-friends.org/sibleyhouse.htm (it doesn’t really say so in as many words) Dakota War: http://usdakotawar.org/history/henry-h-sibley