Camp Ripley

{{see also|Fort Ripley (Minnesota fort)}}

{{see also|Fort Ripley (Minnesota fort)}}

[[Image:Minnesota National Guard Soldier training at Camp Ripley.JPG|thumb|right|Instructor gives an Officer Candidate tactical advice during a training exercise at Camp Ripley]]

[[Image:Minnesota National Guard Soldier training at Camp Ripley.JPG|thumb|right|Instructor gives an Officer Candidate tactical advice during a training exercise at Camp Ripley]]

The site for Camp Ripley was first approved following [[World War I]] in 1929. The State of Minnesota purchased {{convert|12000|acre|km2}} of land to be used for military training. The site was officially named Camp Ripley in December 1930. It was named after [[Fort Ripley (Minnesota fort)|Fort Ripley]], a frontier fort that had been closed by the Federal Government in 1877. The fort was named for Brigadier General [[Eleazar Wheelock Ripley]], a hero of the War of 1812. The remains of Fort Ripley are contained within the camp's property boundaries. The first soldiers that came to train at Camp Ripley stayed in tents, thus, training was only possible in the summer months. The government started to see that it was not beneficial to use tents year round while training, so they constructed buildings. There are now many historic buildings at Camp Ripley. An example is Valhalla, the governor's lodge. President [[Harry S. Truman]] stayed there twice, as did [[Senator Eugene McCarthy]]. When the lodge is not being used by the governor, it is used for other VIP guests.<ref>{{cite book|title=Camp Ripley 1930-1960|author=Sandra Alcott Erickson|publisher= Arcadia Publishing, 2007}}</ref>

The site for Camp Ripley was first approved following [[World War I]] in 1929. The State of Minnesota purchased {{convert|12000|acre|km2}} of land to be used for military training. The site was officially named Camp Ripley in December 1930. It was named after [[Fort Ripley (Minnesota fort)|Fort Ripley]], a frontier fort that had been closed by the Federal Government in 1877. The fort was named for Brigadier General [[Eleazar Wheelock Ripley]], a hero of the War of 1812. The remains of Fort Ripley are contained within the camp's property boundaries. The first soldiers that came to train at Camp Ripley stayed in tents, thus, training was only possible in the summer months. The government started to see that it was not beneficial to use tents year round while training, so they constructed buildings. There are now many historic buildings at Camp Ripley. An example is [[Valhalla (Camp Ripley)|Valhalla, the governor's lodge]]. President [[Harry S. Truman]] stayed there twice, as did [[Senator Eugene McCarthy]]. When the lodge is not being used by the governor, it is used for other VIP guests.<ref>{{cite book|title=Camp Ripley 1930-1960|author=Sandra Alcott Erickson|publisher= Arcadia Publishing, 2007}}</ref>

In 1951, the Minnesota Legislature approved the purchasing of more land by Camp Ripley. After the purchase they then had {{convert|45000|acre|km2}} of land. Camp Ripley slowly bought more land and now has {{convert|53000|acre|km2}}.

In 1951, the Minnesota Legislature approved the purchasing of more land by Camp Ripley. After the purchase they then had {{convert|45000|acre|km2}} of land. Camp Ripley slowly bought more land and now has {{convert|53000|acre|km2}}.