The confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers has long been important to the peoples of this region. Native American cultures moving into Minnesota as early as 12,000 years ago lived along these major rivers. Dakotan groups living here for centuries viewed the confluence as the religious center of the earth and the birthplace of their people. Early French voyageurs and later British traders and military personnel used Minnesota's largest rivers to explore Dakotan lands. As the fur trade expanded, more Europeans arrived, and many fur trading posts were established in this area. When United States military scouts arrived in 1805, they immediately recognized the military and economic importance of the confluence. The U.S. military built Fort Snelling in 1820-1924, making it the oldest military post in Minnesota. As a place of tremendous natural beauty and history, the confluence continues to play a special role in the lives of local people.
