Minnesota’s German Town Survived a Dakota War Siege That Nearly Wiped It Off the Map

New Ulm, Minnesota

New Ulm sits in southern Minnesota like a slice of Bavaria that got lost crossing the Atlantic. This small city of 13,000 people speaks German on street corners, brews beer the old way, and throws festivals that would make Munich jealous.

German settlers built this place in 1854 with big dreams and bigger steins.

Here’s how a Bavarian town took root in the American heartland.

New Ulm, Minnesota

Four men from the Chicago Land Society stepped onto Minnesota soil on October 7, 1854. Athanasius Henle, Frank Massopust, Christian Ludwig Meyer, and Alois Palmer chose the site where the Minnesota and Cottonwood Rivers meet.

The settlers named their town after Ulm in Württemberg, Germany, reflecting their homeland. By 1860, New Ulm counted 635 residents.

Many could not speak English and had not yet become American citizens. The Dakota called this place ‘Wachupata,’ meaning ‘Village on the Cottonwood.’

German Revolutionaries Find Freedom

French fur trader Joseph La Framboise guided the Chicago Germans to their ideal settlement spot. Two years later, in 1856, the Socialist Turner Society from Cincinnati joined them, bringing strength in numbers.

Turners practiced gymnastics and debated politics in their homeland. Many fled Germany after the failed 1848 revolution against autocratic monarchies.

Captain Jacob Nix embodied this revolutionary spirit. German authorities sentenced him to death for treason during the 1848 uprising.

He escaped to America, settled in New Ulm in 1858, and opened a general store. His military experience proved vital when Dakota warriors attacked the town in 1862.

A Town Built on German Principles

Christian Prignitz drew up New Ulm’s master plan, filed officially in April 1858. At the center, he placed three blocks for Turner Hall, the county courthouse, and a public school.

These buildings formed the political, social, and educational core of the community. The westernmost streets bore names of American revolutionaries Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and Paine.

Wide tree-lined streets and spacious boulevards created an orderly German town on Minnesota’s frontier. Four-acre garden plots outside the residential area allowed residents to support themselves through farming.

The First Dakota Attack

Dakota warriors launched their first attack on New Ulm on August 19, 1862. The afternoon skirmish lasted several hours and left five settlers dead.

Just days before, New Ulm residents had petitioned Governor Alexander Ramsey about delayed Dakota payments. The petition warned that the Dakota faced starvation and threatened war.

Franz Czeigowitz, a former Austrian soldier, organized 50 poorly armed citizens into a militia. Only 12 men carried rifles, while others wielded shotguns and farm tools.

The day after the attack, residents elected Judge Charles Flandrau from St. Peter as their military commander. Over 1,000 refugees flooded into New Ulm, swelling the population to 2,000.

The Largest Battle Since 1776

More than 600 Dakota soldiers attacked New Ulm on August 23, 1862. Chief Wambditanka, born in 1827 at Black Dog’s village, led warriors alongside Chiefs Wabasha and Makato.

This became the largest attack on an American town since the Revolutionary War. The Dakota formed a U-shaped formation and advanced toward the settlement.

Captain William B. Dodd rode beyond the barricades, believing he saw reinforcements. Dakota fighters masquerading as militia killed him near the log blacksmith shop.

At the battle’s climax, Dakota forces used the terrain to position themselves in buildings flanking the town’s barricades. From there, they fired devastating shots against the defenders.

Evacuation Through Hostile Territory

On August 25, 1862, Charles Flandrau ordered the complete evacuation of New Ulm. A wagon train of 153 vehicles carried 2,000 people toward Mankato, escorted by 150 men.

Before leaving, Flandrau commanded that all buildings outside the defensive perimeter be burned. In total, 190 structures turned to ash, leaving only 49 homes for 2,500 people.

The refugees made it to Mankato without incident despite moving through potentially hostile territory. New Ulm remained empty until the war ended.

During this period, residents formed the New Ulm Battery under militia law. This unit, created to defend the settlement, survives today as the only remaining Civil War-era militia in the United States.

The Oldest Bar in Minnesota

Turner Hall has stood at the heart of New Ulm since 1856. The oldest section dates to 1873 and earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

A fire in 1952 destroyed parts of the hall, but the community rebuilt it by 1953. Turner Hall remains among the most active in the country, preserving its original mission.

Below the hall sits the Rathskeller, Minnesota’s oldest continuously operated bar. Century-old murals cover the walls, painted by three artists: Guido Methua (1873), Christian Heller (1887), and Anton Gag (1901).

Brewing Through War and Prohibition

August Schell established his brewery in 1860, just six years after New Ulm’s founding. Today it stands as the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the United States.

The brewery survived the Dakota War when many buildings burned, because Schell had maintained friendly relations with the Dakota people.

The company faced another challenge during Prohibition (1919-1933) when alcohol production became illegal. They produced ‘near beer,’ soft drinks, and other products to stay afloat.

Now listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, Schell’s continues brewing German-style lagers.

Musical Tower of History

The 45-foot Glockenspiel tower stands in Schonlau Park at Fourth North and Minnesota Streets. In 2021, the city completed a $210,000 renovation to preserve this landmark.

Inside hang 37 bells weighing more than two tons combined. These bells chime throughout the day, playing traditional German and American melodies.

Twelve figurines representing characters from New Ulm’s history emerge during performances. A rotating stage carries figures depicting a three-piece band, grain miller, beer drinker, brick mason, Dakota, and pioneer.

Visiting New Ulm, Minnesota

New Ulm sits 90 miles southwest of Minneapolis on Highway 14, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from the Twin Cities.

Hermann Monument charges $5 to climb the tower stairs when open. The Glockenspiel performs at noon, 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. daily, and Turner Hall’s Rathskeller serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

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