Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site

It's the summer solstice and a gorgeous day at Fort Abercrombie! Come on out!

A common question we get asked at the Fort is "Why is the second story arranged this way?" The answer has to do with combat capability and visibility. By offsetting the second story 90 degrees, If the Fort's gates were breached, soldiers manning this would be able to fire inside the Fort, while also being able to fire outside as needed.

With a higher second story, it provides more visibility for troops walking post on the second story. When someone is spotted approaching the Fort, the sighting can be reported to the officer or sergeant of the guard.

The two blockhouses at the Fort are replicas of the originals built in the fall and winter of 1862.

Come and visit us, and check out the blockhouse for yourself!

This season at the Fort, we're going to do something a bit different. We're going to be giving brief looks at the things the troops needed to keep functioning as a unit.

These barrels and boxes show two of the ways food as stored during the Civil War. Sacks (not pictured) were used for goods like coffee, flour and potatoes. Regardless of what the box or barrel or sack contained, each would be stenciled for what it contained.

Thank you Fort Abercrombie Site Interpreter Alan for giving a great presentation on the Wilson’s Creek Civil War Battlefield. Your work is greatly appreciated. Also thank you to everyone that attended the first Fort Abercrombie Sunday History Program. It was a great weekend to visit Fort Abercrombie. Over 91 people visited the site the last two days.

Tomorrow is the first of four Sunday programs this summer! Site Interpreter Alan will be presenting on the Battle of Wilson's Creek, which was the second battle of the Civil War and the first in the Western Theater. It's at 2pm in the gallery, and is free to the public.

You are about to send an inquiry regarding the following domain: theater.it

The view from the Fort's observation deck just before noon. It's nice weather, come on out!

This is a map located in the front lobby of the Fort Abercrombie Visitor's Center. The circles are push pins in the map that show were people have come from to visit us. Make sure your pin gets pushed in when you come to visit!

The Fort's first Sunday History Program will take place on Sunday, June 14th, at 2 pm. Learn about the first major battle west of the Mississippi River. Taking place at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, a few miles from Springfield, it was a very costly Union victory.

Eighty-two years ago today, troops from the U.S. Army, the British
Army, and the Canadian Army hit the French beaches in Normandy. Follow up waves of troops included the Free French and Free Polish units. In this photo, we see infantry disembarking from a Higgins boat, two halftracks, two DUKWs, and what appears to be a towed 57 mm anti-tank gun. Notice the long lines walking towards the front on their long journey to reach the Elbe River in N**i Germany. Sadly, many of these men died on the way East.

Well. folks, the end is near...the vegetation on the Minnesota side of the river is changing color...it's beginning to turn a little cooler...and today is the last day of the Fort's season. We had a good year overall. The staff wishes to thank the people who have been out to see us and take our tours. We also thank our site interpreters who left early for the classroom: Alexa, to teach in the West Fargo system; Lis, off to pursue a doctorate; and Emma, who is beginning her college adventure. Good luck to them!

We're open today until 5, so you do have one last chance to see us!