What's the story behind Minnesota's military training ground, Camp Ripley?

18 Mar 2022

Community, Economic Development, Government

For nearly a century, soldiers preparing for battle have honed their skills at a massive military facility in the center of Minnesota: Camp Ripley.

The 53,000-acre campus is larger than the city of Minneapolis. Simulated wars are fought in this slice of Morrison County, where tanks, missiles and heavy aircraft are a regular part of the landscape. It is the primary training area for the Minnesota National Guard and a key resource for local law enforcement and other military agencies.

Reader Stephanie Newland wanted to know more about Camp Ripley's background, so she sought answers from Curious Minnesota, the Star Tribune's reader-powered reporting project.

"Who is Camp Ripley/Fort Ripley named after?" asked Newland, an elementary school librarian in Fargo who lives in Harwood, N.D. "I grew up near Camp Ripley, and my father worked there for his entire career. I am curious to learn more about this military facility."

Read the full article here.

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