Staff photo by Fritz Busch Prior to a Friends of Fort Ridgely reorganization meeting Aug. 30, Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City, looks at a gravestone commemorating Chief Mou Zoo Mau Nee and the Chippewa Indians for services rendered during the Dakota uprising and War Between the States.

FORT RIDGELY STATE PARK — District. 18A Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City, gave history buffs a shot in the arm Tuesday with news of his forthcoming movie based on his novel “Uprising” about the Dakota uprising of 1862.

Speaking at the Friends of Fort Ridgely reorganization meeting at a park shelter, Urdahl thanked the Friends group for the roles it has performed in service of the park in past years.

“Obviously history is important. As a history teacher at New London-Spicer, I regularly brought a busload of students here to tour the park,” Urdahl said. “I commend you for your work at this very important place.”

“Regarding what’s going on, first of all, if I were elected governor, we’d rebuild the whole fort,” added Urdahl. “We’re doing a feature film on my book ‘Uprising.’ On Sept. 11, we’re planning on doing some filming here. There is a chance we could rebuild the fort with some computer generation.”

Urdahl said he recently contacted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and learned it had just completed amphitheater safety improvements, resurfaced the stage deck and put in a new vault toilet in the nearby picnic area. Future work includes accessibility construction.

Brush clearing was completed, foundation work began and new wells were drilled in the campground and below the chalet. A new septic system is planned.

“I talked with (Government Relations and Public Policy director) David Kelliher at the (Minnesota) State Historical Society about what was going on (with the Fort Ridgely historical site), and he said they’re still planning, basically trying to figure it out, like you are,” Erdahl said. “I’d encourage you to help them try to decide. Don’t be shy about telling them what you think should happen here. Maybe (the historical site) could be open on weekends or a few special events.”

Erdahl said the MHS is not planning to permanently close the site, although the commissary building displays were cleaned out, because they thought the displays were antiquated and no longer functional.

“I disagree with that a little bit. I liked that bubble top diorama (Fort Ridgely model). I thought it was pretty good,” said Erdahl. “I’d like to see it re-open. It’s an important site. The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 is the biggest event in history that nobody outside of Minnesota knows anything about. Most of our (Minnesota) population doesn’t know what happened here in 1862. That fort site is one of the most important focal points of the war.”

“The state in some ways is ignoring the most important site of the most important event in the history of our state. You could argue it should receive a lot more attention in the whole country,’ Erdahl said. “That’s what my movie is about. To try to educate people, give them further understanding of it.”

Former Fort Ridgely Park Ranger Mark Tjosass thanked a couple dozen people for coming and said a few new Friends of Fort Ridgely board members were needed.

Tjoass said the Friends have about 30 living, lifetime members.

“We need people to take board positions and help run events,” Tjosass said.

Al Koenig of Buffalo Lake, a member of the Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association, was among those who said they wished to join the board.

The Minnesota Historical Society can be contacted at 1-800-657-3773. A blog is available at bottom of the home page at mnhs.org.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.)