As the Civil War raged on, the Union Army, following a defeat at Wilson’s Creek in southwest Missouri, fell back to Rolla and in 1863 constructed a double-deck blockhouse to protect the town from any rebel attack from the east. That building – named Fort Dette, after Capt. John F.W. Dette, who supervised most of its construction – sat on the site of what is now Missouri S&T.

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

First woman department chair

First woman department chair

In 1990, Dr. Elizabeth Cummins was named chair of Missouri S&T’s English department. She joined S&T as an instructor in…

Going nuclear

Going nuclear

Missouri S&T is home to the state’s first nuclear reactor. Operational since 1961 and one of only three nuclear reactors…

Behind every weather forecast

Behind every weather forecast

The next time you’re watching the Weather Channel, you might want to thank S&T alumnus Harry Smith for equipping today’s…

Suzanna Long: An ‘80s alumna remembers

Suzanna Long: An ‘80s alumna remembers

Engineering management Chair Suzanna Long, who holds four degrees from the university...

Bringing it all together

Bringing it all together

Before retiring, civil engineering graduate John Mathes headed his own multidisciplinary engineering business that specialized in high-profile contamination projects. In…

Bringing back the wetlands

Bringing back the wetlands

Donald Hey, a 1963 graduate in civil engineering, is passionate about proving the economic efficiency and sustainability of using restored…