Public access to the Hermann Monument will be restricted going forward. New Ulm Park and Recreation Commission received a report from a recent structural inspection that recommended access be limited for safety.

NEW ULM – Access to Hermann Monument will be restricted this season after a structural inspection found the interior of the monument unsafe for public use, the New Ulm Parks and Recreation Commission learned Monday. 

Parks and Recreation Director Joey Schugel said the annual inspection, completed March 30 by structural engineer Brent Cronen, showed continued deterioration of brick, limestone and gunnite materials inside the structure. 

“It is not structurally sound to climb to the top,” Schugel said. 

He said the bronze statue remains stable, but the interior leading up to it has worsened.

Schugel said the engineer recommended closing the monument to the public because of the risk of falling debris. 

Commissioners asked whether any access would still be allowed. Schugel said only essential personnel, such as engineers, architects or contractors involved in planning, may enter the monument under supervision and after signing liability waivers. 

He said the city attorney will review the process to ensure proper protocol.

Commissioner Greg Glover asked about the city’s responsibility if someone were injured during a supervised visit.

Schugel said waivers are required but the procedure will be evaluated further. 

Commissioner Jim Jensen said he believed the monument should remain fully closed until repairs are complete, saying, “Once you close it, in my opinion, just not allow anybody because it could really be a can of worms.”

A cost estimate presented to the City Council on April 7 projected approximately $11.6 million to deconstruct and reconstruct the monument. 

Deconstruction alone is estimated at $3 million, and no funding source has been secured. Schugel said the timeline depends entirely on obtaining full project funding. 

“If we were funded for the project, we would anticipate a year of deconstruction and a year of reconstruction,” he said. 

If full funding does not materialize, he said the city will need to consider alternative options for the monument’s future.

The commission voted to recommend that the city council receive and file the Hermann Monument Use Assessment. 

The vote does not authorize construction or closure actions beyond the safety recommendation. 

Schugel said temporary signage will be placed at the site explaining that the monument is closed to the public and outlining the safety concerns identified in the inspection. 

Commissioner Jeff Gulden commented on the impact of the closure, saying, “It’s too bad that more people can’t see it. There are so many people that never have the opportunity to go up there and look at it.”