The Red Wing Way

From Main Street to Global Legacy

Dave Kenney

Available October 2026 

Minnesota Historical Society Press 

Description

Rare archival images and profiles of legendary figures chronicle pivotal moments in the history of the Red Wing Shoe Company, offering an all-access pass inside a Minnesota original that grew into an international player. 

Red Wing Shoe Company’s reputation for quality, durability, and design is appreciated the world over. This history offers an insider’s view of a company that weathered the Great Depression, two world wars, and more by investing in its hometown, accurately predicting global business trends, and charting its own path.

Founded in 1905, the company built a loyal customer base among the nation’s growing ranks of manual laborers who needed safe and durable footwear, met the call to provide boots for soldiers during wartime, and added hunting boots in postwar prosperity. In mid-century the company ran regional and national advertising campaigns; it launched store franchises across the country and eventually around the world. In recent decades, Red Wing shoes have flourished as urban streetwear. The book includes archival catalog imagery, vintage photographs of key figures and workers, studio shots of fashion layouts, and more. Enhancing the narrative are profiles of interesting characters, customer testimonials, and descriptions of the craft of boot making. 

Award-winning author Dave Kenney offers fans and newcomers alike a 360-degree look at a beloved family business that defied the odds, took risks, and remained true to its values and committed to the community it has always called home.

Author Information

Dave Kenney is the author of several books, including Minnesota in the ’70s, Twin Cities Picture Show, and the Minnesota state history textbook, Northern Lights. A two-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award, he lives in Roseville, Minnesota.

• Hardcover
  
• 288 pages
  
• 215 color and b&w photos
• 9 1/4 in H | 10 5/8 in W
• ISBN: 978-1-68134-291-7