The One Small Town In Minnesota With More Historic Places Than Any Other
By Melissa Mahoney|Published September 19, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I've worked in the entertainment industry for much of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream.
New Ulm is a small historical town in Minnesota that was named after a town in Germany. But did you know that it probably has the most historic places out of any other small town in the state? Explore New Ulm and discover all the historical sites for yourself.
There's no doubt that New Ulm is a charming town in Minnesota. But did you also know that it is one of the state's most historic?
The town was designated as a "Preserve America City" in 2006. Around downtown, you can find numerous historical markers and three buildings that survived the 1862 Dakota War.
Built in 1861, The Kiesling House is a wood-framed house that's the only one of its kind left in the area from that time. It's historically significant because it survived the Dakota Conflict of 1862. Today, it is a living history museum where visitors can learn about pioneer life.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Wanda Gag House was built in 1894. It once belonged to author Wanda Gag, and you can find her books and artwork on display here.
New Ulm also has a history that partly stems from German culture. Because of that, there are several historic sites that point to its Germanic origins.
For example, in downtown New Ulm, you can find a 45-foot-tall Glockenspiel. Its 37 bells chime at specific times throughout the day as 12 figures dance around in a circle.
The best way to see as many historic sites as possible during your visit to New Ulm is to take a walking tour. Stop by the Visitor Center and pick up a walking tour map.
When was the last time you visited New Ulm? Is there another small historical town in Minnesota you think your fellow readers would like to see? Mention it in the comments! To learn more about New Ulm, head to the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce website.
