221 West 3rd Street
Red Wing, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Kappel Wagon Works

Statement of Significance:

The Kappel Wagon Works is significant as a rare surviving example of one of Red Wing's vanished businesses. Small manufacturing businesses such as Kappel's were prominent among Red Wing's early businesses and played an important role in the town's commercial development. Architecturally, the building retains a significant degree of original design integrity.

Wagon manufactories flourished in Red Wing from the early days — some dozen firms were engaged in the wagon making business at various times in Red Wing's history. Kappel's was one of the largest of these businesses and longest surviving. It was founded in 1865 by Michael and John Kappel, brothers who came to Red Wing in the early 1860s. The original building was torn down in 1875 and replaced by the present structure. A local furniture store owns the building and uses the upper two floors for furniture storage. A bottled gas company occupies the first floor.

The building today retains a significant degree of its 1875 appearance: the changes that have been made to the exterior of the building are easily reversable. This may be due in part to its location on the eastern edge of Red Wing's commercial district. Unlike most of Red Wing's downtown commercial buildings, Kappel's has not experienced a succession of modernization efforts. Recognition of the building is additionally important because the area in which it is located has been designated for development.