Historic Fort Snelling

National Historic Landmark

Mailing Address:
200 Tower Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55111
 Directions

Contact

(612)-726-1171

Admission

$11 Adults · $9 Seniors   $9 College Students     $6 Children ages 6-17    FREE for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Hours

Mem. Day - Labor Day: Tues - Sat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12 - 5 pm Sept & Oct: Sat. 10 am - 5 pm *Open Memorial Day, July 4 & Labor Day 10 am - 5 pm

*Special event hours/fees may vary. Hours and fees subject to change.

2013 Jun 18

 

Officers' Latrines

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Tour Historic Fort Snelling

1 Gate and Guardhouse
2 Soldiers' Gardens
3 Schoolhouse
4 Round Tower
5 Sutler Store
6 Married Quarters
7 Squad Room
8 Parade Ground
9 Wood Barracks
10 Commanding Officers' Quarters
11 Half-Moon Battery
12 Officers' Quarters
13 Dred Scott's Quarters
14 Shops
15 Hospital

Also of Interest
16 North Battery
17 Gun Shed
18 Powder Magazine
19 Well
20 Officers' Latrines
21 Commissary
22 South Battery

Not Pictured
Visitors Center and Gift Shop
Sibley House Historic Site (Nearby)
Officers' Latrines

Sketch of the back of Officers’ Quarters with the Officers’ Latrines visible to the left side.

  

History

Yet to be reconstructed is this important feature of the Officers' Quarters. The latrine was built over a large chasm in the side of the bluff, which had been closed in front by the fort wall. Six individual rooms provided privacy for the officers and their families, as well as a convenient place for their cooks to dispose of broken china and dinner scraps.

Archaeology

Archaeologists found a wealth of artifacts reflecting many aspects of life in the Officers' Quarters. The bones of wild game, fragment of fine china, discarded toys and military insignia all found its way into the latrine. Some of these items are on display in the nearby Officers' Quarters.

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