On this page you'll be introduced to historic sites in the
Mendota Heights 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: Minnesota Highway 55
The Minnesota River Ferry operated as early
as 1839 moving people and goods to and from Fort Snelling. Early
Mendota area roads all terminated at the ferry crossing point. The
ferry stopped running once the Mendota Bridge was constructed.
When it opened on November 8, 1926, the Mendota Bridge was the
longest continuous concrete-arch bridge in the world, measuring
4,119 feet. Great fanfare occasioned the opening with a telegraph
from President Calvin Coolidge. Two huge caravans of approximately
15,000 cars met in the center of the bridge and Minnesota Governor
Theodore Christianson untied golden ropes for its formal opening.
The bridge was dedicated to the "Gopher Gunners" of the 151st Field
Artillery who died in World War I. Replacing the old ferry which
ran between Fort Snelling and the Village of Mendota since the
mid-1800's, the bridge cost $1,870,000 and was designed by
Minneapolis engineer Walter H. Wheeler and nationally famous
engineer C. A. P. Turner. Koss Construction Company supervised the
project which took an average of 200 men two-and-one-half years to
construct.
Location: Picnic Island, in the Fort Snelling Historic
District
The Cantonment New Hope Site was a
stockade fort built by Col. Leavenworth near Mendota, at the site
of today's Picnic Island, to assemble materials for the
construction of Fort Snelling. When the troops came in August and
September of 1819 with Col. Leavenworth for construction of Fort
Snelling, they spent the Fall and Winter, as well as two following
Winters, in a barracks of log houses on the Dakota County side of
the Minnesota River, about a third of a mile southeast from the
site of the Fort Snelling. This site was also called "St. Peter's
Cantonment" taking both the French and English names of the river.
The camp was also called "New Hope," as a show of optimism for the
wilderness outpost's future. In the Spring when flood waters would
rise, troops staying at the Cantonment would have to abandon it for
another camp on high ground called "Camp Coldwater." Fort Snelling
(then called "Fort Saint Anthony" for near-by Saint Anthony Falls)
was ready for occupation in 1822, at which point the Cantonment had
served its purpose.
In 1865 a railroad trestle and swing bridge was
built to Fort Snelling. The 520 foot long bridge featured a 250
foot swing span and carried the first Dakota County Railroad, the
Minnesota Central. It also served the Minnesota Valley
railroad.
Once across the river, there was also a half mile of wooden
trestle arcing into the town of Mendota. The site of this crossing
is located below the present day Mendota Bridge.
The very first formal school for children
in the Mendota area was opened on June 13, 1859. In 1861, the laws
changed creating a new school district. In June of 1863, farmers
with their teams of horses dragged the school building from the
intersection of Delaware and Emerson Avenues to the intersection of
Emerson and Dodd Road onto land donated by Henry Sibley. The school
took its name from Somerset Farms, which was located across the
road.
In January of 1889, the District #5 school building was
destroyed by a fire caused by the chimney exploding in the first
fire built after a two-week vacation. The school board decided that
they should build a "bigger and better" school building which took
ten years to complete, however the current structure on the site
only dates back to 1936.
Pilot Knob is a site located on the borders of Mendota
Heights and Eagan selected by the Dakotas for signing
the Treaty of 1851 which opened Dakota County to settlement.
The name, "Pilot Knob," was coined by riverboat captians
and refers to a landmark used for navigation. The Dakota,
though, called it O-he-ya-wa-hi [meaning "Hill that is
much visited"]. The State's first military encampment
was below it and it overlooks the first American fort
in the area, Fort Snelling. When US Senator Steven Douglas
authored a bill to create the Territory of Minnesota he
suggested the site for the first State Capitol. Henry
Sibley made the change to the current site at Saint Paul.
Today the site includes Acacia Cemetary.
Pilot Knob, though, is currently at the center of a contraversey
over its future due to encroaching development. Efforts
are underway to preserve the site for its significance
to both Native Americans and Minnesota's heritage. [Read More About Pilot Knob]
Lt. Zebulon Pike's land purchase in 1805 for Fort Snelling
included a portion of what is now Dakota County. The line
ran through land that presently includes Burnsville, Eagan,
Mendota Heights, and West Saint Paul. [Read More about the Military Reservation Line]
Mendota Heights used to be part of the larger Mendota
Township before incorporating separately. Today Mendota
Heights almost encircles neighboring Mendota, but both towns
share a rich history so make sure you check out the page
for Mendota.
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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