I visited Durand on June 3, 2018. It was my first visit to Durand as far as I can remember, and I think it was also my first time in Pepin County. I had no trouble getting to Durand from my previous stop in Alma in Buffalo County, but once I got to Durand, navigation became a bit of a problem. Several of the streets surrounding the government center were torn up, so there was a detour, but at the fork in the road, there was no indication which way to proceed. Naturally I took the wrong turn and so it took a bit longer for me to get to the government center.

The government center is a remodeled hospital and/or nursing home, and has been used as the government center since 1984. One wing contains the sheriff’s offices, jail and the Durand police, and the other wing has the county offices including the court.

Afterward, I drove down to the old courthouse, which is now a museum. It is one of the few surviving wooden courthouses and so is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I did not have the time to go inside, perhaps on my next visit, so I drove to the Lower Chippewa View Park to see the veteran’s memorial. Very nice and in a great location.