The United States Government had some of the earliest investments in the State of Minnesota.  These were generally in the form of forts. Fort Snelling was founded in 1819, at the confluence of the St. Peter (Minnesota) and Mississippi rivers. The Government contracts awarded to local businessmen to supply the fort with all sorts of commodities helped sustain the early growth of the Twin Cities. Many of the buildings on the fort complex were made of local Minnesota brick.

 

Fort Snelling