Red Wing Veteran Memorials

Red Wing has four public veteran memorial sites in Red Wing; three in City of Red Wing Parks and one on the grounds of the Goodhue County Government Center at 509 W. 5th Street.  Also, the Goodhue County History Center (www.goodhuehistory.mus.mn.us), at 1166 Oak Street in Red Wing, has a large collection of photos and other artifacts.

Civil War Memorial: Goodhue County Government Center

The memorial consists of a statue of a Civil War soldier and is located in the front lawn of the former Goodhue County Courthouse.  The Civil War statue was erected in 1913 and dedicated on Memorial Day of that year with an address by legislature F.M. Wilson.  Its $3000 cost was appropriated half by the county commissioners and half by popular subscription.  The style of statue is fairly common and there is a similar one in front of the old Washington County courthouse in Stillwater. 

Goodhue County Veteran’s Memorial: John Rich Park

In 1988 a Veterans Memorial was installed on the north end of the park to honor all Goodhue County citizens who have lost their lives during military service.  The granite memorial lists the names of each Veteran who was lost, by conflict/war.  John Rich Park is located in downtown Red Wing, just south of Highway 61, between East Avenue and West Avenue.

Memorial Park

Memorial Park was dedicated in 1929 as a memorial to soldiers of all wars.  Several local organizations worked to create the park and the land was donated to the City by the William Lawther family.  The majority of the developed park is located on the top of Sorins Bluff and is accessible by vehicle from W. 7th Street.  A flag pole, stone gate, bronze dedication plaque, and cannon are located at the park’s entrance. The park offers several scenic overlooks of Red Wing and the Mississippi River valley below.

William Colvill Memorial: Colvill Park

A memorial in Colvill Park is dedicated to William Colvill and the men of the First Minnesota.  Colvill and his men led the famous Gettysburg Charge during the U.S. Civil War.  The memorial consists of a large bronze plaque and limestone base; it was dedicated in 1965 on the 100th anniversary of the charge.  Colvill Park is located along the Mississippi River in the eastern edge of Red Wing.

More Minnesota memorials