Virtual Tour

Click on a red arrow to visit a particular section of the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel.

The Sanctuary - Panoramic View (requires Flash)

hold mouse over image to pan left or right

As you view the panoramic tour of the chapel’s sanctuary, bear in mind this chapel was built with the permission of the U.S. War Department as a military post chapel for the Fort Snelling complex. The War Department approved it conceptually, with the stipulation that all costs were to be covered by popular subscription, meaning public contributions.

The Adjutant General of the Army approved the start of construction on September 17, 1923 with the directive that construction would proceed at a pace not to exceed the donations either committed or collected. So as items are described throughout the chapel, there will often be a dedication to the contributor as each piece was donated one at a time.

Today, the chapel is a handicapped accessible facility that will seat about 300 individuals. The 39 pews that align the 61 foot center aisle are all original.

As you look down the center aisle a number of flags are visible overhead. These flags come to the chapel courtesy of the Military Historical Society of Minnesota, which runs the Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. The flags on display represent past military campaigns and have all been carried by Minnesota regiments.

Currently on display:
135th Infantry Regimental (traces its roots to the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War of 1861-1865.);
136th Infantry Regimental (traces its roots to the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War);
Blue Flag of Minnesota with the State Seal;
Regiment O.M. Minnesota (Light Blue);
313th US Engineers (Red);
Minnesota State Guard with Seal (Purple); and
6th Regiment Minnesota National Guard.

The windows that surround the sanctuary represent an inspiring history of Minnesota. For more information about each set of windows click on the red arrows on the virtual tour.