Hermann The German in New Ulm: The Story and What Is True

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Hermann the German in New Ulm is a Minnesota story with a documented core at Hermann Monument, Hermann Heights Park, New Ulm, Brown County. The sources are named below.

HistoryKind of story
3Named sources
Minnesota River ValleyRegion
Nov 1Checked, 2026

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Hermann The German in New Ulm

People say a copper warrior stands on a hill above New Ulm with his sword raised toward the sky. He is Hermann, an ancient German hero, and he was put there by German immigrants who wanted a symbol of pride in their heritage. It took years of fundraising before the base and statue came together. Today he is one of the tallest monuments in Minnesota and a signature of the town's German character.

What The Record Shows

The Minnesota Historical Society says architect Julius Berndt, a founding member of New Ulm's lodge of the Sons of Hermann, designed the monument. Sculptor Alphonz Pelzer of the W. H. Mullins company in Salem, Ohio, made the statue from copper sheeting over a steel frame. The cornerstone was laid on June 24, 1888, and the statue was finished in 1889 but waited in storage for several years while the base was funded. The Sons of Hermann dedicated the monument on September 25, 1897. The total height is 102 feet, with the statue itself 32 feet from sword tip to toe. The City of New Ulm took over in 1929, and the monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The city says the area inside the monument is currently closed to the public, though it can be viewed from outside the fence, and Visit New Ulm lists admission and hours that may be out of date. In 2000 Congress named it a symbol of the contributions of Americans of German heritage.

Sources: Hermann the German Monument, New Ulm (MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society); Hermann Monument (City of New Ulm); Hermann Monument (Visit New Ulm, city tourism office).

A Note

Not confirmed: whether the staircase is open. Check with the city of New Ulm before you go.

Its home: City of New Ulm, Hermann Monument. Official page.

On this site: Historic Sites, National Historic Landmarks, Minnesota River Valley Events.

Looked for and Not Found

Current opening status of the staircase

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the story of Hermann the German in New Ulm true?

The Minnesota Historical Society says architect Julius Berndt, a founding member of New Ulm's lodge of the Sons of Hermann, designed the monument.

Is this a legend?

It is a story with a documented core. The facts are listed on this page with their sources.

Where do these facts come from?

From the named sources listed on this page: Hermann the German Monument, New Ulm (MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society); Hermann Monument (City of New Ulm); Hermann Monument (Visit New Ulm, city tourism office).

Sources

Read on November 1, 2026. Stories are for fun; the facts come from these sources. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? tell us.

Cite this page: It's Minnesota, “Hermann The German in New Ulm”, itsminnesota.com/legends/hermann-monument-new-ulm/ (updated 2026-11-01). By the It's Minnesota editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.