The Brown County Historical Society received a $4,500 grant from the New Ulm Area Foundation to update signage at the Kiesling House. Back: Kathleen Backer, Carissa Buegler, Shari Fischer, Kathy Van Roekel, Zack Jensen, Lisa Besemer, Ron Brutlag, Tom Romaine, and Ron Saffert. Front: John Illikman, Amy Johnson, and Roger Hippert.

The historical Kiesling House was awarded a grant of $4,500 from the New Ulm Area Foundation. The purpose of the grant is to replace damaged signage depicting the residence’s historical significance.

Executive Director of the Brown County Historical Society, Amy Johnson, was on hand to receive the grant at a ceremony on Tuesday. Also present were Mayor Kathleen Backer, along with Executive Director of the New Ulm Area Foundation, John Illikman.

“These signs were only meant to be temporary,” Johnson said of the damaged signage. “Because of wear and tear and age, some of them weren’t looking so hot.”

To preserve the aesthetic of the Kiesling House, the City of New Ulm owns and maintains the house. The Brown County Historical Society maintains the exhibits in the house.

“This is part of NUAF’s spring 2024 granting cycle, and the Brown County Historical Society’s application for financial support of updated permanent interpretive panels at the Kiesling House.” Johnson said. “The Foundation’s board determined this request fit especially well with NUAF’s granting pillars of supporting education and historic preservation.”

The Kiesling House, located downtown Minnesota St., was erected in 1861 by blacksmith Friedrich Kiesling and holds political and social relevance in the state. It survived the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 and has stood since as a historical site.

The house is closed for the season, but will be open to the public on Saturday from 11 a.m to

2 p.m. to unveil the new panels. A special demonstration will be held featuring a blacksmith in the front yard of the house.