From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, we didn’t have many plans until we got to the Badlands. Fortunately, we met some amazing friends in northern Wisconsin to help us pass a few days literally out in the middle of nowhere at Weavers Resort and Campground on Pelican Lake. Linnea and Viv, friends from Germany, drove up from southern Wisconsin and Mike and Ev, friends from South Korea came from Duluth. We didn’t do much sightseeing, aside from Hodag hunting (see this blog post) and chowing down on gigantic ice cream cones from The Shabby Shack. The kids enjoyed swimming in the lake (until they found leeches) and playing at the playground, while the adults chilled at camp and enjoyed catching up. These people you meet while stationed overseas become your family and it was heartwarming being together again, reliving old memories. We left Wisconsin a day early so Dusty could do a meet-and-greet with 3M’s flight department on Thursday (which ended up getting rescheduled for Saturday.) After a 4.5 hour drive, we arrived at Lake Elmo Park Reserve around dinner time. We attempted to get some school work done, which is becoming increasingly difficult due to having too much fun exploring new places! In lieu of a history textbook, we took a field trip on Thursday to Historic Ft. Snelling and got a much more enriching history lesson than we ever could have imagined. At the confluence of the mighty Mississippi and the Minnesota River, this area has a long history, juxtaposed with multiple connotations, dependent on your ethnic affiliation. For the Dakota and Ojibwe people, this is a place of creation, a location that archaeologically traces native history back some twelve thousand years. The Fort represents a land that was stolen; a place where their warriors died trying to defend their land and feed their children. The same area that once meant spiritual rebirth and healing now represents a stockade that held hundreds of women, children, and elderly. Many Dakota died in horrific conditions within this camp, while the rest were banished from their ancestral lands. For African Americans, Fort Snelling means bondage even after freedom. It was home to Dred and Harriet Scott, who at that time were owned by Dr. Emerson, a surgeon at the Fort. Because of the Missouri Compromise and the location of Fort Snelling on the border of a free state, Scott and other Blacks should have been free, but an exception was made that military officers could own slaves regardless of their state’s legal standing, and many at the Fort did. Scott sued for his freedom and lost in a landmark case that shook the nation and served as a catalyst for the Civil War. For the American military, this post represents an introduction to proud military tradition for the many men and women who passed through to begin their service to their country before being shipped off to fight in wars both at home and abroad. It was home to the Military Intelligence Service Language School where hundreds of Japanese Americans released from internment camps volunteered to learn to be translators, spies, and interrogators in order to defend their country during World War II. Additionally, Fort Snelling was a leading hospital for rehabilitation for amputees and PTSD after WWI and WWII. This living history museum remarkably honors the long military history, while also telling the story of discrimination and horror, with attempts to make retribution. We spent six hours at the fort—well over the hour and a half recommended time! If you’re in to history, this is a stop not to miss. (Free for military families.) Friday we fulfilled the kids’ dreams at the Mall of America—all day. We again took advantage of the military discounts and got wristbands to ride til our little hearts were content. I can’t remember ever being in an indoor amusement park, so being close to the roof was a little disconcerting for me, but we had a good time. Brickhead took controls of the Brain Surge, a ride that goes around in circles in a car that spins upside down. He spun me around in a way that reminded me I’m getting too old to partake in that nonsense. The Rock Bottom took us to the ceiling before dropping us straight down then flinging us into inverted loops and corkscrews. A family favorite was the Log Chute, which had two drops in it.
The kids were excited to shop at the LEGO store, which was touted as a three story LEGO shopping extravaganza, having every brick you could imagine and all available sets. Brickhead gathered all his money and went in with a shopping list, but was extremely disappointed to discover that the store was not nearly as stocked as he had hoped. They got a few minifigures and called it a day. However, a highlight was Fly Over America, a virtual flight simulator over some of the most beautiful scenery that the United States has to offer. If you ever have a chance to do it, we all really enjoyed it. Saturday we got ready to leave, but not before we went with Dusty to an informal meeting with the Chief Pilot at 3M. We visited their WWII era wooden hangars and learned about past floods, as well as life as a corporate jet pilot for 3M. Time will tell if St. Paul becomes a future Ramsey home.
2 Comments
Maxine Holmes
8/14/2022 06:34:54 pm
Much more interesting to learn History right there instead of in a book ! Ft. snelling and Fly Over America both sound so interesting .
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Joni Ramsey
8/19/2022 12:09:35 am
I was so impressed with Ft. Snelling. The curating there is very well done. The staff was knowledgable, the information was presented well, and it told all sides of the story, which I appreciate. We had never heard of the fort before and hadn't intended on going, but I'm so glad we did.
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