Michael Bonacci's Blog
August 15, 2016
Hermann
Check out the Hermann Monument - it plays a significant role in my novel, Left at the Monkey.
http://hermannmonument.com/
I was inspired by this monument growing up in New Ulm, MN. As kids, we climbed the spiral staircase that led to the 27 foot high cupola, nearly 200 feet up in the air. From its vantage you could see all of the Minnesota Valley spread out before you - maybe all the way to the Twin Cities or Wisconsin!
The statue of our hero, Hermann, is 32 feet high, and the monument itself was erected in 1897. In the 70s I remember it falling into disrepair, maybe even being closed off to the public for a while, until it was declared a national park in the 90s. But anyone with half a soul loved the thrill of the encircling climb, the clank clank clank of your shoes on the steel stairs, and the wind hitting you in the face as you emerged onto the platform. The railing surrounding the cupola didn't make you feel any safer, especially with the gusts of wind, but to look down 5th St. and see the bell tower of Trinity Cathedral, or the monument on Center St., or the murky Minnesota River meandering through town on its way north towards the Cities - all of that was worth the climb and the harrowing of my innards.
Two of the main characters of Left at the Monkey
, Frankie and Flip, spend a lot of time at the top of Hermann. I've told you some of the reasons why it was a special place for me, but you'll have to read the book to find out what it means to these guys. You can read Chapter 1 at http://leftatthemonky.weebly.com (Hermann makes his first appearance!)
http://hermannmonument.com/
I was inspired by this monument growing up in New Ulm, MN. As kids, we climbed the spiral staircase that led to the 27 foot high cupola, nearly 200 feet up in the air. From its vantage you could see all of the Minnesota Valley spread out before you - maybe all the way to the Twin Cities or Wisconsin!
The statue of our hero, Hermann, is 32 feet high, and the monument itself was erected in 1897. In the 70s I remember it falling into disrepair, maybe even being closed off to the public for a while, until it was declared a national park in the 90s. But anyone with half a soul loved the thrill of the encircling climb, the clank clank clank of your shoes on the steel stairs, and the wind hitting you in the face as you emerged onto the platform. The railing surrounding the cupola didn't make you feel any safer, especially with the gusts of wind, but to look down 5th St. and see the bell tower of Trinity Cathedral, or the monument on Center St., or the murky Minnesota River meandering through town on its way north towards the Cities - all of that was worth the climb and the harrowing of my innards.
Two of the main characters of Left at the Monkey
, Frankie and Flip, spend a lot of time at the top of Hermann. I've told you some of the reasons why it was a special place for me, but you'll have to read the book to find out what it means to these guys. You can read Chapter 1 at http://leftatthemonky.weebly.com (Hermann makes his first appearance!)
