German immigrants settled this part of the Missouri River area in 1836. They kept their German culture and skills, including winemaking.
Leatherworkers, weavers, potters, and other artisans can still be seen working at the Deutsche Schule in the German School of Arts and Crafts. Hermann, population 2,800, also has craft and antique shops.
Visitors can learn more about the town’s German heritage at the Deutschheim State Historic Site, as well as at the Historic Hermann Museum and Information Center. The latter’s displays are more wideranging, and even include a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Several area wineries, including the Stone Hill Winery and the Hermannhof Winery, welcome visitors year-round. A good time to visit is during one of its German festivals, in May or October.
The area around Hermann, midway between Jefferson City and St Louis, is serviced by trains.