New Ulm’s Turner Hall holds a special place in American history and in local culture. Between 1848 and 1901, with the founding of the National German Alliance, the Turners were the most important secular German American organization in the country. In 1856, in the midst of widespread violence against German immigrants, the national Turnverein authorized the creation of a colonization society. Led by Wilhelm Pfaender, the colony hoped to establish a new community based on “Practical Turnerism.” They joined with a like-minded settlement group from Chicago to found New Ulm.

The Settlement Society charter gave “Good German fellowship” as one of the purposes for the new town. At the heart of the social life stood the Turnhalle. Local culture flourished as the new hall became a social center for the whole community, with the Turners hosting plays, concerts, lectures, and dances. Even today, New Ulm reflects a philosophy and a cultural heritage rooted in Turnerism.

The first Turner Hall burnt to the ground during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The south half of the current building was constructed in 1873, making it the oldest Turner Hall in the United States still in its original use. Designed by Julius Berndt, the city’s most important 19th century architect and “Father of Hermann Monument,” the floor plan has changed little since its construction — a unique combination of school rooms, library, and a saloon. The north half of the building blends the exterior wall elements of a 1901 hall/theater that burned in 1952, with a 1953 interior and main facade.