Introducing a new history tour of downtown Red Wing
This story originally appeared in the Red Wing Republican Eagle (https://www.republicaneagle.com/news/introducing-a-new-history-tour-of-downtown-red-wing/article_464274cc-9857-11ef-acb7-2b1893f65c6c.html)
You’ve heard of Downtown Main Street’s Holiday Stroll. Now, experience Red Wing’s History Stroll! The History Stroll is a self-guided tour that tells the stories of 10 historic buildings in downtown Red Wing and how they shaped the river town.
The History Stroll is accessible through mobile devices using QR codes posted at each location.
Each stop includes the history of the building and photos and explores how those buildings connect to Red Wing’s larger past, diving into topics like the limestone industry and the town’s reliance on horses.
The hope is that the tour will also reveal facts even long-time Red Wing residents might not know. On the various stops, visitors will discover a group known as the Mystical Order of Seven, Red Wing’s celebrity cyclist and President Rutherford B. Hayes eating “Blood’s Best.”
The 10 buildings included on the tour are:
The T.B. Sheldon Memorial Auditorium
The Hawkins Building (Mandy’s Café)
The Webster Livery (Rivertown Games)
The Union Block (Hanisch Bakery)
The Gladstone Block (Rak Boutique)
The I.O.O.F. Hall (Carlson’s Sports Center)
The Boxrud Brothers Block (Hallstrom’s Florist)
The St. James Hotel
The Iron Works
The Red Wing train depot.
Tour stops are also available without using the QR codes by visiting downtownredwing.org/historystroll, though, for those that can, the tour stops are best enjoyed in the shadow of the 100 to 150-year-old buildings being described.
There is no set structure for the tour, so visitors can experience as many stops as they would like in any order they please.
The project is broken into three categories: Landmarks, Legends, and Lore. This initial wave of stops is made up of Landmarks. There is hope that future installments will add more buildings to the list of landmarks and will also dive into the people who shaped the town, as well as some of the more mysterious pieces of Red Wing’s history.
The tour was first conceived and created by Red Wing Downtown Main Street, with assistance from the Goodhue County Historical Society.
Meyer Beckner, the programs manager of Downtown Main Street, oversaw the project and sees a way to make downtown about more than just the historic appearance of the buildings. “People experience stories and storytelling, and this gives the architecture more people-centered narratives.”
On top of that, he says, the program has been fun for business owners. “It’s a great way for them to see themselves in the history of their buildings, and how its history informs the present.”
The director of the Goodhue County Historical Society, Robin Wipperling, is happy to see the project available for anyone who comes through town. “I like when I go to a town and learn something about it,” she says, “it makes it a more meaningful trip.” Visitors to Red Wing now have one more option for that experience.
In addition to the Goodhue County Historical Society, Downtown Main Street would like to offer a special thank you to The Red Wing Area Fund, which provided funding for this portion of the History Stroll, and Tessa Blue, who coordinated with the business and building owners to make sure the tour could be easily accessible.
