Nov 28 2008
Photo Friday: Hermann Monument in New Ulm, Minnesota
I first visited Hermann Monument, or “Herman the German” when on a trip with my grandma and cousin, following the Laura Ingalls Wilder trail through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. (I also remember having my very-first Chicken McNuggets at the McDonalds in New Ulm, for what that’s worth!)
Climbing up Hermann’s spiral staircase to the interior lookout area affords a colorful view of New Ulm below, as the windows on that level are made of various-colored glass panes. Going higher to the small top overlook gives even a better view.
Hermann stands guard atop “the hill,” or Minnesota River bluff, in New Ulm. From an early age, my kids loved to see him and announced that “if a guy with a sword is chasing you, you should always, always run away.”
Now they ask to go up every year. I reserve the Hermann trips for days when my husband can go up with them, for I’ve become fearful of heights lately.
This is the back of Hermann. Notice the three viewing levels: the low one by the lions, the windows above, and the crow’s nest just below the actual statue.
This photo of New Ulm was taken from the lion level, as far as I dared go up this last trip.
The spiral staircase goes up to the window level, and then a little ladder-staircase goes up to the top from there.
And as for the history of Hermann and why he’s guarding New Ulm . . .
New Ulm has a strong German heritage. Many of the businesses in town reflect that: Gutentag Haus, Treasure Haus, Marktplatz Mall, and so on. When the clinic was remodeled recently, directional signs were installed in English, Spanish, and German. Downtown, a permanent display of old German flags is mounted to one of the building walls, and the Glockenspiel rings out several times a day.
For more travel photos, please head over to DeliciousBaby and see this week’s offerings!
i would love to climb up there year after year. it’s spectacular!
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Shame you didn’t get to the top – it looks like Herman has a great view
This looks a little like the climb up many lighthouse towers I’ve visited. Great shots!
I told Tim that the next time we went out west, I wanted to see some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder sights. Loved her books when I was a kid and read them multiple times!
I’m overwhelmed by the blue skies! (Unfortunately, there is a lot of air pollution where I live in China.) New Ulm looks like a beautiful little city!
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Really beautiful. It looks so peaceful from up there.
What a cool place! I love unexpected discoveries like this one.
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[...] Marshals for the parade were Hermann the German and his wife, Thusnelda. Hermann the German and Thusnelda at New Ulm Parade of [...]
[...] seeing everything. Living on the prairie as we do, the highest he’d been before was probably Hermann Monument. So not only did he want to see the views, he wanted to see what this tall building was all about [...]
I was pleasantly surprised to see that there is a “Hermann” statue in America. Someday I hope to visit it.
In 1929, a man named “Artemas Harmon” wrote a book about his heritage and said that all natural- born Harmon’s/Harmann’s are decended from this Hermann the German Liberator. I like to think that’s true.
Thank you for telling us about it.
[...] aside your fear of heights and climb up Hermann Monument (aka Hermann the German). The views of the valley are beautiful from the [...]