City Spotlight

Red Wing, Minnesota

Population: 16,513

Motto: Come for a visit, stay for a lifetime

The historic river city of Red Wing takes its name from a Sioux (Dakota) Indian chief. People all over the world know the name thanks to Red Wing Shoes and Red Wing Stoneware & Pottery. Its rich history is reflected in its downtown main street district. It is a historic river town dotted with quaint bed and breakfasts and home to the historic Sheldon Theatre. Red Wing is home to the Aurora Ski Club, which was founded in the 1880s and introduced a type of skiing that became known as Red Wing Style.

Red Wing's biggest festival is River City Days held in early August which features a ton of attractions for people of all ages to enjoy. Red Wing Arts Association also hosts a few arts festivals throughout the year as well as concerts in the park. Many holiday shoppers head to Red Wing for the Annual Holiday Stroll the day after Thanksgiving. Red Wing is home to 33 parks within the city limits and is a hiking and biking destination.

The name Red Wing is said to come from an Indian Chief from the area in the 1800's called Hupahuduta which means a swan's wing dyed in red. Red Wing was incorporated as a city in 1857 and is surrounded by bluffs, the Mississippi River and is one of the leading manufacturing cities in Minnesota with products like shoes, pottery, leather, linseed oil, and safety and robotic products being made.

Red Wing is home to a historic train depot and is still a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder. The city has a rich railroad history serving as a stop throughout history for services between Chicago, Wisconsin and the Twin Cities. The Red Wing Visitor and Convention Bureau and an art gallery are also housed in the depot. Fans of antiques flock to Red Wing for their many shops filled with the treasures of yesterday.