Among all of the many, many unique towns in Minnesota, New Ulm just might be the most unique. Seated in the scenic Minnesota River Valley about 30 miles northwest of Mankato, this heavily-German influenced town has all the look and feel of the old country, with the most notable structure, Hermann the German, watching over the citizens. 
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For those of you just joining us, we’re back in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St Paul to have a look at a small, triangular piece of grass in an unassuming suburban neighborhood. This plot of land at the intersection of Smith, Dodd, and Bernard Sts. in West St Paul, MN, was recognized by Ripley’s Believe it or Not in 1967 as the World’s Smallest Dedicated Park.
This week at Highway Highlights we venture into the extreme southwest corner of Minnesota to a small town called Pipestone. Nicknamed “Home of the Red Stone Pipe,” Pipestone sits near the borders of Iowa and South Dakota on the Great Plains. But this place is anything but plain. First off, it’s home to this bad boy: The World’s Largest Peace Pipe.
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Right now, most Minnesotans are preparing for next week’s Christmas celebration, and this year it looks like there might actually be some snow on the ground for it. Christmas is a beloved holiday here, meaning family get-togethers, days off from work, Christmas lights, and for some lucky homes- Lutefisk. While some consider Lutefisk to be a tradition best left to the ages, one town in southwestern Minnesota has even gone so far as to forever immortalize the much-maligned fish in the way we know best – a roadside attraction.
In front of the U.S. District Courthouse in Minnesota’s largest city, you will find a very unique setting. This ‘courtyard’ of sorts is actually a 50,000 square foot plaza featuring grass mounds planted with small pine trees – an oasis of sorts in a concrete jungle. While downtown Minneapolis certainly has its charm, this little slice of green islands also features something more curious – the “Rockmen.”
