Camp Coldwater / Bureau of Mines

The other day was a mental health day. Quivering like the loose collection of atoms I am, I wandered south toward the airport and the river and Fort Snelling, in search of Camp Coldwater, the birthplace of Minneapolis, spiritual spring, surrounded by federal land and often locked behind gates, much to the consternation of local Native Americans here who, by right of treaty, are the only ones who can draw water from the perpetual spring.

More captivating, perhaps, then the spring, were the collection of deteriorating outbuildings relating to the Bureau of Mines branch that still stands. The architecture is decidedly 70s-civic-midwestern, and reminds me a lot of my old elementary school. I knocked but no one was home. I hope to write more about it soon and share some of my photos.