Hermann The German needs repairs — or a total rebuild

Hermann The German, the iconic bronze statue overlooking the city of New Ulm, looks pretty good for 128 years old.

• The pedestal he stands atop on is a different story: it's crumbling from the inside.

Driving the news: Officials in the German-rooted city are now deciding whether to repair or completely rebuild the monument, whose insides are crumbling, the New Ulm Journal reported.

• The base is in such bad shape, the state's Historic Preservation Office actually backed reconstruction — a rarity for the agency, the Star Tribune reported.

Whatever they decide, Hermann himself would still be on view, city officials say.

• If you decide to check out the statue, stop by the Kaiserhoff for some schnitzel.