I first photographed Hermann, which is the county seat of Gasconade County, all the way back in November of 2007. I was surprised and impressed at many of the positive changes.

I visited Hermannhof Winery, which I learned was originally a brewery that was ruined by Prohibition. In fact, the town’s economy never really recovered from the recession of that followed, I learned.

The investment of a member of the Dierberg Family (not related to the grocery store branch) has invested large amounts of money in the eastern end of the town, including this building, which is a wonderful example of the Second Empire style.

First Street, the main commercial artery, is lined with spectacular buildings in all sorts of different styles, which preserve a mid- to late-Nineteenth Century street wall.

Some of the oldest buildings face the railroad tracks and the Missouri River, such as the one below, which has its backyard facing First Street.

The White House is a fantastic example of an extant mid-Nineteenth Century railroad hotel right next to the Amtrak station.

The bank is still a First Bank, which is interesting in this age of mergers.

Amazingly, what had been a run-down, semi-vacant grain elevator has been renovated into a micro-brewery sometime in the last twelve years. What an amazing transformation to see.