On this page you'll be introduced to historic sites in the
Castle Rock area. Some of them are simply interesting points of
local interest, but many have a unique place in the history of
Minnesota or have even been deemed of National significance. Each
is well worth the trip to see in person and, hopefully, this page
will help you understand these sites and the role they played in
our rich history.
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Indicates a site that is of National historic significance and
has a marker in place from the National Register of Historic
Sites. |
Location: Dakota County Fair Grounds, County Highway 74
(Razed)
It was suggested in 1935 that "No
institution, perhaps, has exerted greater influence upon American
rural life than the agricultural fair." Today, the Dakota County
Fair is still going strong, but a monument to its rich history
needs restoration; this is the Horticulture Building.
Construction of this building began in 1918, but the heritage it
represents goes back to 1858, when the Dakota County Agricultural
Society, one of the oldest agricultural societies in the state of
Minnesota, was organized. As part of its activities it sponsored an
annual fair. The first fair took place in boomtown Nininger in 1858
with Henry H. Sibley as guest speaker. Later the fair moved to
Hastings and then in 1869 it settled in Farmington.
In 1918, the fair moved to new grounds in Farmington, and for
the fair's 53rd anniversary a racetrack and three new buildings
were constructed, among them the Horticulture Building. The first
building to be seen when approaching the main entrance at the time,
the Horticulture Building has a central octagon surmounted by an
octagonal wood dome painted silver; two monitor-topped wings emerge
from opposite sides of the central octagon.
Within this building, the products of labor, pride and
achievement have been exhibited for nearly 50 years - the products
and produce of Dakota County agricultural life. The building
achieved National Register status in 1980, but in 1984 structural
problems raised talk of its possible demolition. Its dome leaned
toward one side and fear arose that a strong wind could topple
it.
It was razed in 1988 and the dome set on a foundation as a gazebo.
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 Castle
Rock was a 45 foot tall natural Sandstone formation
located in, where else, but the township named for
the feature. Settlers thought it had the appearance
of medieval castle ruins.
It doesn't look like the photo anymore,
though. Time and erosion took their toll on the
formation weakening it enough that a storm blew
the top off of it after 1900.
The Society published a magazine on
the history of Castle Rock in October 2004. 
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The former Dakota County NIKE Missile site is located
at 1462 260th Street (oddly it is often listed as being
in Farmington even though it is about seven miles southeast
of there and located well within Castle Rock Township).
The NIKE site is located in a mostly rural area, surrounded
by farm land, and scattered homes. There are approximately
a dozen homes within one mile of the site.
The NIKE missile site was built in 1959. It was one of
four bases constructed during the "Cold War"
era to defend the Twin Cities from possible enemy aircraft
attacks. A communications facility associated with the
missile site is located about one mile northwest of the
site.
A waste-water treatment plant formerly operated by the
U.S. Army is considered part of the missile site. This
treatment plant stands on a separate, unfenced piece of
land, about 250 yards south of the main facility.
The NIKE site closed in 1972. The IFC (Integrated Fire
Control) Area of the site has been in private ownership
for many years. Ownership of the Launcher site immediately
passed from the military to the (former) United States
Bureau of Mines (USBM) in 1973. USBM used the base as
a water-jet, rock-cutting research center until 1995.
The USBM was disbanded in 1995 and management of the NIKE
property is now being handled by the Twin Cities Research
Center (TCRC) Closure Team. The Federal Government is
planning to transfer ownership of the site to a different
government agency or private party. It is not known how
the site will be used in the future.
Access to the main NIKE complex is restricted, and the
site is enclosed by a chain link fence topped with barbed
wire. A communications tower used by the Minnesota Department
of Transportation is located within the fenced part of
the NIKE complex. Radio equipment at the site was used
during Desert Storm (1990-1991) to provide communications
between the forces in the Middle East and their families.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Department also uses this
area of the complex for training exercises.
The site is reportedly in wonderful condition for its
age and decades of disuse. All the underground magazines
are apparently clean and dry and the elevators and doors
are still functional. The Minnesota Vehicle and Arms museum
have expressed interest in taking over the site for their
museum, but the property must first be accepted by a government
agency that could then turn it over for a museum. Thus
far no other agency has accepted ownership of the site.
The State Historical Preservation Officer has declared
the site eligible for the National Registry, but it has
not yet become a registered historic site.
If you know of a local site in this area that you feel should
be acknowledged for its historic significance we'd love
to hear about it or help you to investigate and document
the site. Please contact the us at:
Dakota County Historical Society
130 Third Avenue North
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
| Telephone: 651/552-7548 |
Fax:
651/552-7265
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