RED WING, MN – Mississippi Riverfront

This city was named after the early 19th-century Dakota Sioux chief, Red Wing (Shakea), or Hupahuduta (“Wing of the Wild Swan Dyed Red”). He was one of a succession of Mdewakanton Dakota chiefs whose name “Red Wing” came from their use of a dyed swan’s wing as their symbol of rank. He was an ally of British soldiers during the War of 1812. After a vision in which he saw the Americans driving out the British, he declared neutrality. French Canadians referred to him as L’Aile Rouge. Later he took the name Shakea, or “The Man Who Paints Himself Red,” after passing the name Red Wing on to a successor chief. ~wikipedia

Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, along the upper Mississippi River. Having lived near the river most of my life, it’s sometime easy to forgot the unique and picturesque features that draw others to the region.

The arrival of riverboats in late Summer

Red Wing Yacht Club Boathouses

Bay Point Park

The Big Turn on the Mississippi River

The Big Turn as seen from Bay Point Park

Barn Bluff (He Mni Can) [L] & Sorins Bluff (Memorial Park) [R]

Mud Lake

Trenton Island Yacht Club

Having a drone has re-peaked my interest to photograph the beautiful area where I live.

Red Wing is connected to Wisconsin by the Eisenhower Bridge); it carries U.S. Route 63 over the Mississippi River and its backwaters. ~wikipedia

Construction on the bridge that will replace the Eisenhower Bridge is slated to be complete August 2020. Based on a Minnesota state statute, the name must remain the Eisenhower Memorial Bridge.

BARN BLUFF

Barn Bluff is a bluff along the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota, United States. The bluff is associated with Dakota legend from hundreds of years ago. During the 19th century, the bluff functioned as a visual reference for explorers and travelers. The bluff overlooks the downtown area and towers about 400 feet above the Mississippi River with an extensive view of Lake Pepin to the south. It is one of hundreds of bluffs in the Driftless Area, which covers parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, in addition to the southeastern toe of Minnesota. -wikipedia

Barn Bluff aka Mount La Grange and He Mni Can, is 3100′ long, 800′ wide, 334′ above the river and 1001′ above sea level. There are two main lookouts (red dots) on either end of the bluff; both equally spectacular. The main trailhead can be accessed on the East side; off of East 5th Street (blue dot). See Map for trail details. More info on Barn Bluff here. If you even find yourself in Red Wing, plan on spending a couple of hours hiking the bluff; you won’t be disappointed.