Questions about Ramsey County and St. Paul history answered. . . Ask The Historian

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ASK an HISTORIAN

The "Ask an Historian" feature has made a move to improve the way Ramsey County History buffs communicate about history. William Peterson, Ramsey County Historical Society's Researcher is now hosting the Ramsey County Historical Society Ask an Historian Blog

Postings on the blog deal with questions posed by Ramsey County Historical Society patrons and the subsequent research, using Ramsey County Historical Society collection to the answer the questions.

Make sure to visit and participate in the blog and check back often for new postings.
History belongs to all of us!

Have a question about Ramsey County or Saint Paul History and you can't find the answer .........Why not ask an Historian!

To submit a question, visit the ASK AN HISTORIAN BLOG

The Gibbs House
Located near Mount Gibbs (See Below)

Visitors please note:
The Research Center is open to Ramsey County Historical Society members and the public, Monday through Thursday between 10:00am and 4:00pm.
Please call 651-222-0701 or email Research@rchs.com

Ramsey County Historical Society offers the first 15 minutes of staff research free, this gives you the perfect opportunity to have some of your questions about Ramsey County or St. Paul history answered.

We do not specialize in genealogy. We have few resources that would be of any help in genealogical research. If you have a genealogy question please refer to the following information.

Ramsey County Historical Society does not hold any Birth, Death or Marriage records. They are held within the St. Paul & Ramsey County Department of Public Health. The Birth, Death or Marriage records are from 1870 to present (approx.)
There is a cost involved in retrieving these records. For more information on the County's Birth & Death records visit this website or call 651-266-1333.

Also check the Minnesota Historical Society's online Death Certificate index

Ramsey County Historical Society’s collection does not contain census records or naturalization records. These items can be found at the Minnesota Historical Society’s Library at 345 Kellogg Blvd. West in St. Paul.
For more information visit the Minnesota Historical Society’s Library website or call 651-296-2143.

QUESTION

Hello,
I am continuing to research the Dakotah Indian Ricing Trail circa 1850. I have found a reference to "Mount Gibbs" which I believe was on the Heman and Jane Gibbs property. I am familiar with the current site. Can you tell me where in relationship to the Gibbs Farm the "mount" was located? Any help will be gratefully appreciated.

Respectfully, Richard Moreland

ANSWER

What I found for you on Mt. Gibbs:
According to and article from the Spring 2000 issue of Ramsey County History Mt Gibbs was located near the South-West corner of what is now the intersection of Larpenteur and Cleveland. Could this be the natural rise of the University Grove area? Probably. Historic maps have a way of being semi-accurate. They leave a lot open to interpretation. I would guess that the topographic rise in question is actually set back a significant distance from the intersection.

Mt. Gibbs was a landmark on trail that the Dakota people of the area used in the late summer/fall to access the wild rice lakes near present day Forest Lake. Ramsey County Historical Society maintains the Gibbs Museum, across the street from 'Mt. Gibbs'. From my work as an archaeologist I would guess that Mt. Gibbs became a strategic stopping point for the Dakota on their way North because of it's high vantage point and the proximity to Horseshoe Lake (fresh water), the same reason that the Gibbs likely chose the area.

I would suggest (if you haven't already) a walk around the area on a nice day. Like I mentioned before, these old maps and settlers accounts have a tendency to be semi-accurate, the present day interpretation generally falls in the hands of the observer: you

Support the "Ask an Historian" Project and others like it
by joining the Ramsey County Historical Society!

To submit a question, email us at Research@rchs.com

323 Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102
Phone: (651) 222-0701, Fax: (651) 223-8539
info@rchs.com
Copyright 2012

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