Tanks for the Memories: Turner Up For New Ulm
- Lindsay Britts
- Jul 13, 2017
- 3 min read
Getting inspired to do a little cruisin’ of your own? Ready to hit the road for a weekend ride to a place you’ve never been before? We can show you the best trips in your neck of the woods and you won’t even have to stop to fuel up. Each week, we pick a starting city and plan a getaway to some of the most charming, energetic, and just plain fun places that you’ll only need one tank of gas to reach. When it’s all over, you’ll be able to say… TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
Starting Point: Minneapolis, MN
Destination: New Ulm, MN
Distance: about 95 miles
Although we are all Americans, it’s important to be able to look back at our histories and celebrate our heritages. One town in Minnesota embodies the honor of knowing where you came from and also keeps customs current and alive: the German oasis of New Ulm.
New Ulm, Minnesota was founded in 1854 by an association of German Americans called the Chicago Land Company. Wikipedia says: “In 1856, the Settlement Association of the Socialist Turner Society ("Turners") helped to secure the city's future. The Turners originated in Germany in the first half of the nineteenth century, promoted with the slogan, ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body.’ Their clubs combined gymnastics with lectures and debates about the issues of the day.” At the time, German immigrants faced discrimination coming into the country, so the Turners were looking for a sercure place to settle. The Turners helped the Chicago Land Company by supplying capital and workers to build up the city. The choice was deliberate to make New Ulm a town with a distinct character reflective of their Turner and German heritage.
Credit: newulm.com
New Ulm still stands as unique as in its beginning. The riverfront along the Minnesota River boasts a tremendous 70-foot statue of Hermann the German, watching over the city in ancient Germanic armor. Downtown in Schonlau Park, a glockenspiel sounds with its two-ton chimes, giving a show with its rotating figurines. True to its roots, the original Turner Hall is still in use and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This is only the tip of the iceberg and the amount of places and events rise above 99 luftballoons. And of course, what would a German village be like without Oktoberfest? The first two weekends in October have the town tapped and flowing with the energy and inebriants of the original fall festival.
Credit: newulm.com
As a town that gets its roots from the country of the Autobahn, New Ulm doesn’t shy away from car culture. Each summer the New Ulm Car Hop And Shop brings the hottest classic cars to the downtown district every second Thursday of the month from May to September. While you’re walking down the street looking at all the beautiful vehicles, take time to swing into some of downtown’s specialty shops. Another annual event, the AutoFest, is held at the county fairgrounds and features an even larger selection of vehicles and vendors. They even run a drive-in movie, so curl up in the front seat of your caddy and enjoy the show.
Credit: newulm.com
Their slogan declares that “Germans Have More Fun,” and you can certainly see that it’s true from the many photos and events on their social media. (Although, being mostly German, the author of this article is a little more than biased!) The commercial website for the city of New Ulm is both beautiful in its look and usage, so make sure to check it out before you arrive. It even has a section on trip itineraries if you need ideas for spending a day or a whole vacation there.
If you want to experience a little of your heritage without a passport, or are eager to immerse yourself in exploring a new culture, New Ulm, Minnesota will have you saying danke schoen at every stop!
STRETCH YOUR LEGS: If you take I-169 to get to New Ulm, you’ll pass tons of scrumptious treats in Jordan, MN. Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store carries both local and international candy brands, and also stocks a large assortment of sodas from the commercial to the unique. If your sweet tooth gets sore easily, Jim’s Apple Farm on site offers not only apples and baked goods but has a gift shop. The site is open seasonally from mid-May through November, so cruise on in and grab some popcorn and pop from this popular spot!
LEARN MORE:
http://www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us/
http://www.newulm.com/
http://www.germanshavemorefun.com/
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