New Ulm was founded by German immigrant societies in the 1850s and still leans into that identity through its brewery, its glockenspiel, and its Hermann the German statue overlooking the town. It's a compact, walkable day: most of what there is to see sits within a few blocks of downtown, plus the brewery and monument just outside it. The town is at its most active during its scheduled festivals, but works as a standard day trip year-round.
| Distance | 110 miles from Minneapolis |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1.75 hours via US-169 South or MN-15 South |
| Getting there | Personal vehicle only. Jefferson Lines bus to Mankato (nearby) with connecting taxi. |
| Address | Center St & Broadway, New Ulm, MN 56073 (Glockenspiel: 4th N St & Minnesota St) |
How to get there
- Personal vehicle via US-169 South
- Jefferson Lines to Mankato ($22 one-way) + taxi/rideshare 30 miles to New Ulm
Location
Center St & Broadway, New Ulm, MN 56073 (Glockenspiel: 4th N St & Minnesota St)
44.3119, -94.4596 View on map
Highlights
- New Ulm Glockenspiel - a 45-foot freestanding carillon clock tower with animated figures that perform on a schedule at 4th North Street and Minnesota Street
- August Schell Brewing Company - a German-founded brewery operating since 1860 on the edge of town, with tours and a taproom
- Hermann Heights Monument (Hermann the German) - a large statue on a hill above downtown commemorating the German folk hero Arminius, with a viewing platform in its base
- Downtown New Ulm - storefronts along Minnesota Street built in a deliberately German-influenced architectural style