Staff photo by Fritz Busch Wang Vue of St. Paul, Thylin Carlstaedt and Dan Burridge of Minneapolis and Jeremy Nordberg take in the view at the base of the Hermann Monument statute Saturday in Hermann Heights Park. The monument is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

NEW ULM — Dozens of visitors took advantage of the Hermann Monument opening for the season Saturday in Hermann Heights Park.

More than 40 people registered at the monument office in the first few hours of operation.

Visitors included Dan Trautmann, formerly of Richfield, who recently moved to New Ulm.

“Hermann massively towers over the valley. He represents an independent spirit,” said Trautmann.

“It’s a nice, quiet place. Pretty impressive and definitely unique,” said Trautmann’s son Byron of Minneapolis.

“It’s majestic in a peaceful neighborhood,” said Chad Fernandez of Minneapolis.

Chuck Plummer of Sioux Falls, S.D. said he came to New Ulm to visit his son A. J. Plummer of Courtland and his grandchildren.

“I didn’t realize you could climb this until today,” Plummer said.

Dan Burridge of Minneapolis came to Hermann with friends Wang Vue of St. Paul, Thylin Carlstaedt of Minneapolis and Jeremy Nordberg of Sleepy Eye.

The four men said they met each other at the Teen Challenge Ministry Institute (TCMI) in Minneapolis. After recovery program graduation, the organization equips workers for the harvest to serve locally and around the world through evangelism, discipleship and leadership training.

“It’s awesome. There’s nothing like this in the Twin Cities,” he said looking out over the Minnesota River Valley from the walkway just below the statue of Hermann.

The legend of Hermann, freedom fighter and enemy of Roman tyranny, lives on in German folklore. The legend is widespread. Hermann came to stand for fidelity, freedom and honor. Enthusiasm for Hermann traveled with German immigrants to American during the early years of the 19th century.

In 1840, a national Order of the Sons of Hermann fraternal society was organized in New York City. The group later built the Hermann Monument in New Ulm.

The Hermann Monument belongs to the City of New Ulm. The Hermann Monument Society helps the City of New Ulm maintain the monument.

Last year, the community learned the monument needs extensive restoration. Plans include disassembling and reconstructing the monument below the statue of Hermann. Those interested in donating to the extensive project and becoming a Hermann Monument Society member if they aren’t already a member, are encouraged to visit the Hermann Monument website.

Hermann is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The site will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday from Memorial day through Labor Day and Saturdays and Sundays the first three weekends in October. Admission is $3 per person. Children ages 5 and under are free with a paying adult. Adults must accompany children under age 16.

For more information, visit hermannmonument.com,