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We've got a lot going on and we can't wait for you to join us. Find all the happenings in Saint Paul right here.

We strive to post the most current and accurate event information, but changes and cancellations do occur, so please check the official event website to confirm all details before attending.

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Ancient Caves

Science Museum of Minnesota  120 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102 St. Paul, MN 55102 Saint Paul

Ancient Caves 120 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102 St. Paul, MN 55102

Corn Fest One Valleyfair Drive Shakopee, MN 55379

Emmett’s Jazz Brunch Residency: The Richardson Trio

Emmett's Jazz Brunch Residency: The Richardson Trio 701 Grand Ave Saint Paul , MN 55105

State Capitol Complex Archaeology Tours

State Capitol Complex Archaeology Tours 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd St. Paul, MN 55155

Minnesota State Fair

Dinosaur expedition at como town.

Dinosaur Expedition at Como Town 1301 Midway Parkway Saint Paul, MN 55103

Cooks | Bellecour Cooking Classes

Stand-up comedy open mic ft. headliners abeneezer merdassa & k jay the comedian.

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic ft. Headliners Abeneezer Merdassa & K Jay the Comedian 141 4th Street East, LL2 Saint Paul, MN 55101

Trivia Mafia at Emmet’s Public House

Grandstand concert series: ludacris & t‑pain, trivia night w/​ trivia mafia at dual citizen brewing co., guide to the gilded age, food truck wednesday.

Rice Park  109 4th St. W. St. Paul, Mn 55102 Downtown

Grandstand Concert Series: Jon Pardi with special guest MacKenzie Porter

Karaoke 400 Wabasha St Saint Paul, MN 55102

TOGETHER 350 Robert Street North St Paul, MN 55101

Summer of Sound

Summer of Sound 520 Malcolm Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55414

Children’s Storytime at Rafiki Coffee & Café

The 370 sets — thursday happy hour free music series.

Osborn370  370 Wabasha Street North St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 263-7662 Downtown

The 370 Sets — Thursday Happy Hour Free Music Series 370 Wabasha Street North St. Paul, MN 55102

Free Thursday Nights at the History Center

Free Thursday Nights at the History Center 345 Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55102

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Grand Tours

august, 2024

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Welcome to st. paul's #1 rated ghost tour.

Mansions of mystery and misfortune lie in the heart of Minnesota’s capital. Uncover the origins of St. Paul and the unsettling sins spawned from its rise.

With a 2000-year-old history, St. Paul harbors a disturbingly dark chronology mired in ghosts and villains that spans centuries before European contact. Take a Twin City Ghosts Tour and explore a past obscured in misery, mayhem, and murder.

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THE EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT

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Preview The Most Haunted Locations In St. Paul

Forepaugh’s 2nd mansion.

This idyllic Victorian-style home on Summit Avenue was peacefully inhabited by Joseph Forepaugh and his family until a sordid affair between Joseph and their Irish maid, Molly, fractured the family unit. Tragedy struck when Joseph chose his wife over Molly, causing Molly to hang herself in the home and later, Joseph committed suicide in the woods. Not surprisingly, the mansion is haunted by both Joseph and Molly, with their spirits frequently being spotted throughout the home—Molly residing in the top floors and Joseph staying near the basement.

Chauncey Griggs Mansion

While there have been several owners of the Griggs home over the years, none have stayed long thanks to the strong paranormal presence within the house. One of the primary ghosts in the house is a maid who worked in the house at the turn of the 20th century whose ghost has been seen like a white mist all over the mansion. The mansion’s besetting caretaker and gardener haunt the library in the home. His ghost has been seen and felt in this room, and people have heard the rustling of papers when no one was there.

The Fitzgerald Theater

Built in 1910 as a memorial to Sam S. Shubert by his brothers who were leaders in the entertainment business, this elegant theater acquired its current name, The Fitzgerald Theater, in 1994 in honor of the famous author who, at one time, called Minnesota his home. When the building was being renovated in 1985, there was a false ceiling that was removed and unexplained happenings began. Plaster fell from the ceiling, revealing a shadowy man walking along the catwalk, and tools vanished and reappeared in different places. There is another visitor to the theater from times past and the staff says her voice fills the auditorium with song.

Welcome to Twin City Ghosts

St. Paul’s placid veneer, its homely streets, cobblestone avenues, and handsome architecture turns wicked once twilight sets in and the sun goes down. Discover why the city is home to some of the most haunted locations in America.

The Black Heart of St. Paul 

The most liveable city in America is a melting pot of culture, lively individuals, and restless, unhinged spirits. Tragedy, adversity, and untimely deaths play a role in attracting sights and sounds that would make anyone question their own sanity. In the background of ideal scenery and picturesque views is a shadowy avenue that few dare travel – one that leads to the darkest pit of this haunted region. There are haunted locations in every corner of this burgh, places where visitors have been teased by past misdeeds and shadowy undertakings, with phantom shockwaves still sending tremors to those in its path.

The area that is St. Paul was once a battle-hardened wasteland. This was a dark, disturbing place in history where nomadic tribes and pre-indigenous groups fought violently for supremacy. Where tribes shed their blood and tears, and where sweat and hardship fertilized the fields, when food, grain, trees, and land were commodities worth dying and drawing blood for. Perched upon an ancient Indian Burial Mount, this delightful area is cursed by its unwelcomed proximity to the sacred, tainting every building that’s taken a piece of this holy space.

Adventure into a new frontier of dark tourism and learn the terrible truths behind this homespun and iconic place – Welcome to Twin City Ghosts.

What Will I See?

St.paul’s witching hour and the lives it took.

Summit Avenue is known as one of the most famous streets in the nation not only for having the longest stretch of Victorian-era houses in America but for being a breeding ground for the wealthy, the famous, and the grandiose. The indulgences these socialites were exposed to, however, played a part in the demise of many of their earnings, and lives, as was the case of Mr. Joseph Forepaugh.

Visit Forepaugh’s 2nd Mansion where you’ll learn about the entrepreneur’s rise to wealth and his transgressions that resulted in the suicide of his Irish maid, Molly. Following the discovery of Joseph and Molly’s affair by Mrs. Forepaugh, Mr. Forepaugh’s mistress hanged herself from the 3rd-floor chandelier, reportedly in response to Joseph choosing to stay with his wife. Molly wouldn’t be the only casualty in this modern-day soap opera. 

Joseph too committed suicide, allegedly because of his inability to get over the loss of Molly. The devastation of this torrid love affair and its Romeo and Juliet-type ending left a lasting wound on the mansion, one that remains open and oozing with paranormal happenings and ghostly sightings of the unfaithful pair. Molly is said to make creepy appearances at various parties, walking down the hallways and sometimes locked in a gaze before vanishing. The manic ghost of Joseph Forepaugh has also been seen, most often running up and down the stairs in a panic.

Trapped in Forepaugh’s mansion for eternity yet seemingly light years apart, the tortured lovers aren’t the only past residents whose agitated souls are trapped on Summit Avenue.

The Summoning of David Stuart

In the same year Minnesota became a state, successful sawmill owner David Stuart built what is now the oldest house on Summit Avenue. Take a stroll with Twin City Ghosts to The Old Smith “Vine” Mansion, a two-story Italianate-styled house that leads the way in more than just original design and structure. 

Sadly, Mr. Stuart would not be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor as he passed away the year the building of his immaculate home was completed. His spirit would get no rest, however. Hear the actual accounts of his wife’s dark dive into the occult and the lengths she went to in an attempt to contact him. Going through nearly her entire inheritance, she did more than contact her deceased husband – she trapped his withered soul in the home along with a variety of other spirits of the not-so-friendly kind.

More than a century after the attempted conjurings, the vengeful ghosts continue to instill terror into visitors of the house in the most tormenting of ways. Horrifying accounts include visitors claiming to hear a menacing disembodied voice verbalizing some of the most horrid things imaginable, sending chills down the spines of those who cross paths with the evil entities. Stay focused on your tour guide, or you may be the next to be accursed by the dead.

Why Is St. Paul So Haunted?

The dawn of disease.

The development of Summit Avenue included a place for children as the area was growing at an exponential rate with individuals of all ages. Discover Cochran Park, a piece of Summit Avenue that served as a play area for children in the 19th century. This donated piece of property was designed to be a safe haven for children to run and play worry-free. This dream endeavor, however, would soon turn into an amusement park of nightmares.

Unsanitary conditions and diseased livestock would be the culprits of constant pandemic flare-ups, and the kids would be the carriers of these deadly illnesses. What’s transpired since has been a cause of panic and horror for visitors and locals alike. Visions of emaciated and distraught children can be seen in the waters of the duck pond as well as the petrifying sounds of their anguished screams and cries. The pain that reverberates in the park can be felt in the air, and seen by unsuspecting visitors – you might just be next.

The Underworld Rises

It’s hard to believe that such a quaint city with gorgeous sweeping river views was once home to one of the largest brothels in the Washington Lights District, and it was run by one of the most successful madams of all time. Twin City Ghosts takes you on an intriguing ride through a true heatheness era for St. Paul. Visit the Madame Clifford Statue and unveil the seedy side of this opulent piece of the city, where the nefarious ruled the area and the wicked called home. 

Madame Nina Clifford owned the streets, paying off officials to turn a blind eye to her debauchery. Nina ran her brothels successfully until she passed away in 1929 but she’s not done yet. The madame continues to roam Summit Avenue wearing her 1920s best dress, possibly searching for her next group of ladies of the night to continue her life’s work. Her spirit is not so much menacing – unless she’s coming for you.

Why St. Paul’s Past Won’t Die

Before the Dakota Sioux called the area their home; years before traders, trappers, and outlaws roamed this frontier, and before vengeful mobs hung criminals on the steps of City Hall, St. Paul was already experiencing a seemingly endless supply of pain and misery. 

From beginning to end, St. Paul is filled with eerie stories of the dead and terrifying documented haunts with each stop serving as an opportunity to feel the energy of the souls that once walked these shadowy streets in their earthly form. Get ready to feel your skin crawl, not knowing what’s right around the corner.

What So Special About the Twin City Ghosts Tour?

Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime experience .

Walk with us as we peer behind the curtain and stare deep into the eyes of some of the human monsters, sinister stories, and bizarre tales that hide behind each building’s elaborate turrets and seemingly idyllic gables. Discover the remarkable Rice-Ordway Home, a location that rivals the medium business.

Owned by Lucius Ordway, a multi-millionaire investor of 3M, the home was donated to the Arts of St. Paul but his spirit has never left. It’s said that visitors of the home have been known to experience sudden bolts of inspiration and life-changing revelations that have led them to find new fulfilling purposes. Will Mr. Ordway change your life? There’s only one way to find out – join us for a Twin City Ghosts Tour.

See a Different, Darker Side of a Light-Hearted Destination 

Explore Summit Avenue in St. Paul with our expert guides as they take you through opulent roads where you’ll stand under the shadows of gray gothic buildings while they narrate unbelievable stories of torrid romances, blind avarice ambitions, and inflamed artists engulfed by madness and creativity.

Embark on a journey through this dark and haunted destination as we unearth sinister truths of a tainted road only ghost fans can appreciate. Uncover The Chauncey Griggs Mansion where the brooding presence of a former employee who hung herself in the home can still be felt, ominously. And as one of the most haunted locations on the tour, she’s not alone. Meet the rest of the restless spirits that inhabit this sweet but deceitful road of luxury. 

Be Part of A Growing Community 

Journey with us through St. Paul’s haunted history — a past that lurks behind the city’s shining veneer. Book this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and be part of a growing community of investigators of the afterlife, whether first-time hunters or seasoned veterans. 

The Twin City Ghosts Tour is a sensory experience that can’t be missed, one you’ll remember for the rest of your life — and recall in your nightmares. If you’d like to walk the haunted streets of St Paul and see the city in a truly unique way, book your tour with Twin City Ghosts today. Experience the unexplained where many have bore witness to the unknown and the unexplained. 

Become one of them tonight.

* This is a walking tour and we do not enter privately-owned buildings or private property *

6 Reasons to book your Twin City Ghosts tour right now!

1) you want to immerse yourself in the terrifying history of st. paul .

Connect with the lifeblood of this region and soak up some of the hidden histories of St. Paul. A place where every corner has a story, where every house has a skeleton to hide, where every person has a sin they would rather not shed light on. Our tour is thoroughly researched and based on facts — from history books, recorded accounts of hauntings, and documented ghost sightings. 

A study at Princeton University may have proven the existence of ghosts. Researchers at Princeton University have been studying paranormal phenomena in a scientific context for almost 30 years, through a department called “PEAR”, which stands for “Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research”. PEAR is a scientific study of consciousness-related physical phenomena.

“Nearly three decades of intense experimentation leave little doubt that the anomalous physical phenomena appearing in the PEAR studies are valid, and are significantly correlated with such subjective variables as intention, meaning, resonance, and uncertainty… The primary importance of operator intention and emotional resonance with the task at hand, along with the operator-specific structure evident in the data, the absence of traditional learning patterns, and  the lack of explicit space and time dependence clearly predicate that no direct application or minor alteration of existing physical or psychological frameworks will suffice. ”

2) You Have A Dark Sense Of Humor

Some of us like our stories, like we like our steaks, bloody and rare. Some of us love a good Agatha Christie Mystery, enjoy curling up to a great Stephen King, and wait anxiously for the next installment of our favorite slasher franchise. Some of us need that extra jolt of darkness when it comes to our stories. We are part of a community that enjoys a good scare — that anxiously wants our veins to bulge as our hearts get flooded with adrenaline. We need that kick. We are a vast community and, to us, there’s nothing more scintillating than a good fright on a cold dark windy night. 

3) You Need Something To Do That’s Different – a chilling date night

Life, sooner or later, becomes a bit dull. You feel like you’re just going through the motions, repeating the same routines over and over again. The same restaurant. The same bar. The same movie theater. The same re-hatched superhero movie. Step out of your comfort zone and book something different — something that’s strange, bizarre, ingenious, and exciting. Come with us on a once-in-lifetime trip and see the world from a different POV. 

Did you know that our bodies release different hormones when we are thrilled or scared? Most of them influence attraction. There’s a reason why scary movies and roller coasters get the blood pumping and give that date night a different stimulant. Join us on this less than romantic tour, yet highly titillating – it’s good for bonding. 

4) You Are Looking For Inspiration 

You need a tale that inspires — that makes you dream new dreams, and create your own stories. You need lore that helps you look at your hometown in a new light. Come with us as we travel through stories that are anything but tame. Stories that make you appreciate how weird and strange the world really is. Stories that allow you to believe in the impossible, and make you rethink what you know about reality. Stories that question the tangible, and the rules of physics — the rules you hold to be true. 

5) You Already Took All Those Architectural Tours

You’ve slugged through all those tours — been up and down Summit Hill and bore witness to some of this nation’s most awe-inspiring buildings. You’ve heard the tales, and the angles, and the motifs. You’ve memorized the style. You’ve been told the difference between Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque. But now, the lights have gone down. The city is painted in moonlight hues and the orange-yellow glare of streetlights, the shadows have grown deeper, the buildings more menacing. Now, you want context, you demand subtext. Come with us as we go beyond what you can see, and what the academics can tell you, and help you experience St. Paul like never before. 

Our guides will take you on a wild theme park ride – they will interact, they will question, they will command the group. Are you sick and tired of all those terrible tour guides? The ones that seem to slide by with the bare minimum? Our experienced guides will take you on an experience you will never forget. They are the polar opposite of traditional. Get ready to scream, to laugh, maybe even shed a tear. 

6) You’re a snowbird in for the winter

“No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.”  —Nick Carraway.

Hemingway’s peculiar friend, the second half of that legendary couple – full of fire, madness, and passion – of Zelda and Scott, the man who wrote some of America’s best novels – full of quotable passages, and memorable scenes – F.Scott Fitzgerald once lived on St. Paul. If you’re a Gatsby fan, new or old – introduced to the writings of the genius by Baz Luhrmann’s and Leonardo DiCaprio – you simply can’t miss this thrilling ghost hunt. Why? F.Scott once called Summit Hill his home. The wordsmith and lyricist penned his first scribble at St. Paul and his house, with its eerie unkempt hanging gardens, soot covered brickwork, and chipped oval openings is full of mysteries and scandals. Get an inside look at the mind of F. Scott as we visit his Victorian retreat and dream of bootleggers, lavish decadent parties, and a green light at the end of a peer.

Further Reading

HISTORIC CATHEDRAL HILL & SUMMIT AVENUE WALKING TOUR

Religion and riches and mansions…oh my!

Dominating the skyline, the majestic Cathedral of Saint Paul stands proudly as gateway to the city’s most scenic and historic neighborhood. Here the Victorian era’s movers and shakers, immigrants and servants, and priests and industrialists created a slice of St Paul which defined the golden age. Stroll past stately mansions on Summit Avenue and learn how residents such as James J Hill, F Scott Fitzgerald, and Cass Gilbert created the city’s colorful past. Includes a sweet treat along the way.

Tour Information

• Public Tour: 9am-11am Saturdays & 10am-12pm Thursdays (Jun - Sep)
• Private Tour:  Select your own day and time!  Contact us  for availability and booking
• Public Tour:  $45 per person
• Private Tour:  Varies depending on number of guests
• Begins and ends at the Cathedral of Saint Paul ( 239 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102 ) at the foot of the grand staircase (east side facing Summit Ave and Cathedral Hill Park)
• See relics of St Paul’s Gilded Age as you walk through the Hill District
• Stroll America’s longest uninterrupted street of Victorian mansions
• Learn the stories of how servants, industrialists, early settlers, Catholics, and prominent architects created what Mark Twain called “the last great city of the east”
• Stand in awe in the shadow of railroad baron James J Hill’s palatial home
• View the majestic Cathedral of Saint Paul
• See the former residence hotel where F Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and Ma Barker stayed
• Historic buildings and some of the city’s best, trendy, and popular restaurants
• View downtown and the State Capitol from atop one of St Paul’s famous hills
• Researched and accurate historical facts
• The expertise of a fun and knowledgeable Tour Guide
• A sweet treat along the way

Dominating the skyline, the majestic Cathedral of Saint Paul stands proudly as gateway to the city’s most scenic and historic neighborhood. Here the Victorian era’s movers and shakers, immigrants and servants, and priests and industrialists created a slice of St Paul which defined the golden age. It includes stately mansions along Summit Avenue, where it was fashionable to see and to be seen, as well as green spaces, Mississippi River overlooks, and repurposed historic buildings with secret tales to tell. Learn the stories of James J Hill, F Scott Fitzgerald, Cass Gilbert, Ma Barker, and more famous, wealthy, and notorious figures from our capital city’s colorful past.

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Expert Column: Attracting Pollinators

The metro’s residential icons include former homes—now museums, restaurants, and clubs—that are open to the public. Our picks for 10 famous Twin Cities homes to tour:

Alexander Ramsey House . Explore a Victorian-era home filled with the original possessions and furnishings of the family of Minnesota’s first territorial governor. 265 Exchange St. S., St. Paul, sites.mnhs.org

Swan J. Turnblad Mansion/American Swedish Institute. Turnblad, a Swedish immigrant and newspaper publisher, began building the “Castle” in 1903. He and his family lived in the $1.5 million mansion (an outrageous amount at the time) for less than 10 years, donating it in 1929 to the organization that came to be known as the American Swedish Institute. Behold the turrets, catwalks, spires, and gables modeled after European castles as well as the intricately carved and embellished interiors that make it one of the more unique famous Twin Cities homes. 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis, asimn.org

Ard Godfrey House. Godfrey, a millwright from Maine built this house in 1848 from the first lumber sawed at the first sawmill at the Falls of St. Anthony. The one-and-a-half story Greek Revival cottage has been moved several times, and today is a museum operated by The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis. 50 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis. womansclub.org

Burwell House. Built in 1883 by Charles Henry Burwell, manager of the Minnetonka Mills Company, this Italian villa-style house is near Minnehaha Creek in Minnetonka. Now operated by the city and the Minnetonka Historical Society, it is open to the public during a number of special events. 13209 E. McGinty Road, Minnetonka, eminnetonka.com

Joseph Forepaugh House. Built in 1870 by a St. Paul pioneer and dry goods tycoon, this fully restored Victorian mansion is now the elegant Forepaugh’s Restaurant—renowned for its atmosphere and its ghost sightings. 276 So. Exchange St., St. Paul, 651-224-5607, forepaughs.com

Governor’s Residence. Built in 1910-11, the 20-room mansion was donated to the state in 1965 by the daughters of the original owners, Horace Hills Irvine and Clothilde McCullough Irvine. It serves as the official ceremonial building for the governor. The first floor and lower level are open for tours periodically. 1006 Summit Ave., St. Paul, mn.gov

James J. Hill House .  One of the more famous Twin Cities homes, the Richardsonian Romaneque-style mansion, completed in 1891, was the home of Gilded Age railroad tycoon James J. Hill and family for 30 years. The house is part of the Minnesota Historical Society’s network of historic sites and museums and is a National Historic Landmark. Guided tours of the four floors and art gallery are available. 240 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, sites.mnhs.org

Longfellow House. The former site of the Longfellow Gardens Botanical and Zoological Park, built by Robert “Fish” Jones in 1907, is a two-thirds size replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s home in Cambridge, Mass. The house has been moved and repurposed a number of times and it is now a hospitality center for the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. 4800 S. Minnehaha Park Dr., Minneapolis, minneapolisparks.org

Purcell-Cutts House. Architects William Gray Purcell and George Grant Elmslie built this masterpiece of Prairie-Style design in 1913. The two-story, open-plan house features art glass in every window, as well as custom-designed and built-in furnishings. Bequeathed to Mia in 1985, it is open for tours periodically. 2328 Lake Place, Minneapolis, collections.artsmia.org

Van Dusen Mansion. Now an event venue, this mansion was built in 1892 for George Washington Van Dusen and his wife, Nancy. Beginning in the 1940s, it was used by a number of commercial enterprises, then narrowly escaped demolition in the mid-1990s. After a three-year restoration project, the mansion regained its original splendor and place among famous Twin Cities homes, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1900 LaSalle Ave, Minneapolis, thevandusenmansion.com

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Twin Cities  >  Saint Paul   >  Downtown Saint Paul Walking Tour

• Twin Cities
• Downtown Minneapolis Walk
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• Downtown St. Paul Walk
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Downtown Saint Paul Walking Tour:

Location :  Downtown & Lowertown Saint Paul Tour Cost :  Free, Self-Guided ( Optional Fees Listed Below ) Start :  1st National Bank Building ( Central Light Rail Stop ) End :  Fitzgerald Theater ( 10th Street Light Rail Stop ) Walking Distance :  1.4 Miles Time :  30 Minutes of Walking ( 5 hours with all stops ) Alternative Route :  If you are also visiting the 7th Street or Irvine Park consider doing them right after the Science Museum. Best Time To Go :  We love going during the  Winter Carnival  which has been going on since 1886, but any time over year is good.  Remember that Stop 4 is only open Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. Fun Scale :  8.5 out of 10

Walking Tour Overview:

Downtown Saint Paul Minnesota is often voted one of the best places to visit in American.  This is because it has a rare combination of big-city amenities and activities, but with a small-town charm.  As you’ll learn, St Paul pre-dates Minneapolis and offers a great contrast of things to do.  Visiting Saint Paul makes for a great day; we hope you enjoy our free walking tour of Downtown & Lowertown!

Brief History Of Downtown Saint Paul:

Early day St Paul may have started around the Mississippi River docks at Upper Landing, but the City’s heart quickly shifted to the area no known as Downtown. Getting its start as the home of a collection of trade warehouses, Downtown grew fast as railroad lines expanded throughout the region.

Many men who got rich in early day St Paul gave back to the community including Henry Rice whose land donation in 1849 gave way to the Park around which Downtown development accelerated. As an emerging frontier city of dirt roads and wagons, grand buildings such as the Federal Court House ( Landmark Center ) and Windsor Hotel ( St Paul Hotel ) served as magnets attracting residents and commerce. The young city center quickly shed its small wooded buildings and became packed with over 75 huge mansions before later development of large commercial buildings took their place.

Over the decades Downtown St Paul became home to historic court cases, prohibition bootleggers, mobsters, and some of the Nations most powerful businessmen. Throughout its changes, the city has continued to grow around its historic city center while maintaining the festivals and personality that have made St Paul a worthy place to visit any time of year.

Downtown Walking Tour Sights:

*Stepping off the Light Rail at the Green Line’s Central stop puts you right in front of the iconic…

1.  The Union Depot : The huge Union Depot, with its Art Deco interior, has been the major hub for Saint Paul since it opened in 1926.  Even if you can’t make an official guided tour, a quick walk through the vast hall will make you feel like you have stepped back in time.  In the 1920s as many as 20,000 people a day cycled through the doors of the Union Depot.  Back then it mainly facilitated train traffic, but today it is also visited by the Twin Cities’ Light Rail Metro.  The Light Rail tram connects Saint Paul to Downtown Minneapolis, the international airport, and the Mall of America.  Entrance Hours:  24/7.   Guided Tours:  Free 60 minute guided tours leave every other Tuesday at 11am & every other Thursday at 1pm.  Depot Website:  ( HERE ).

2.  Weekend Farmer’s Market : This amazing weekend market was started by local farmers in 1853 when St Paul was still a pioneer town with dirt roads, steamboats, and log homes.  Over time the facilities that been upgraded and the market has become our favorite in the Twin Cities.  The current open-air building opened in 1982 and houses 167 stalls.  The focus of the market is fresh produce, flowers, and food.  Market Hours:  May-Thanksgiving Saturdays 6am-1pm & Sundays 8am-1pm.   Guided Tours:  Free 60 minute guided tours leave every other Tuesday at 11am & every other Thursday at 1pm.  Depot Website:  ( HERE ).

3.  Mears Park : In 1849, landowner Robert Smith donated the area of today’s Mears Park to the City because it was a hill mound he deemed to steep to be worth developing.  Although it was supposed to become a park, the First Baptist Church was allowed to build a small meeting house here in 1951 and the area became known as Baptist Hill .  As the church expanded and built a larger church on Wacouta Street in 1862 the City decided to use the square for forced labor.  Criminals with short sentences were brought here for manual labor breaking rocks.  After long objections by locals, the hilly lot was finally level off and turned into a park in 1886 in Robert Smith’s honor.  The newly finished Smith Park  hosted the Ice Palace for Saint Paul’s very  1st Winter Carnival  the same year and became of fixture of a rapidly growing Lowertown.  Some of the most important warehouses in the Midwest quickly sprung up near the park making the land quite valuable.

Over time industry moved out and the area around the square was hit hard until the help of local inventor  Norman Mears .  Mears had turned his small family company into a mega-corporation by inventing better sights for WW2 guns and an aperture mask used in almost every color television.  He then focused his time and wealth into re-developing Lowertown and the buildings facing old Smith Park.  After Norman’s death, the name of the was changed to Mears Park in his honor in 1974.  Today the lively park is home to many events including the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.  The Northside of the Park is also home to the popular bars Barrio Tequila  ( website ) and  The Bulldog  ( website ).    Guided Tours:  Free 60 minute guided tours leave every other Tuesday at 11am & every other Thursday at 1pm.  Park Website:  ( HERE ).

4.  1st National Bank Building :   The 16 story East Tower of the current complex was built as Merchants Bank in 1915.  After Merchants merged with 1st National Bank in 1929 they started building on the West Tower which was finished 2 years later.  From the time the West Tower was completed in 1931 it remained the  tallest building in St Paul for 55 years  through 1986.  During the 1931 expansion, 1st National Bank had to compete hard for materials with New York’s mighty Empire State which was being built at the same time.

The coolest part of the 1st National Bank Building is an old shooting range in the basement.  During the complex’s days as a bank headquarters, the guards were required to practice handgun shooting weekly at targets up to 96 feet away.  Chances are you’ve seen the bright red neon 1st sign on top of the building which is almost as cool as the secret shooting range.  The  large backlit sign  can be seen as far away as 20 miles on a clear day and even over 70 miles at night.  Before leaving notice the Downtown Skywalk System connecting 1st National to the surrounding buildings.  Because of the cold climate, St Paul adopted the elevated skyway to help residents get around rain or shine, or snow.   Building Website:  ( HERE ).

*From the fountain-line Kellogg Mall Park you have great views of the Mississippi River and… 5. Lambert’s Landing: 80-foot-hig cliffs mark the location where the area’s first European settler Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant lived and started a tavern in 1830s.  Early day Saint Paul was referred to as Pigs Eye in his honor.  In 1937 the boat dock near the tavern was officially named Lambert’s Landing in 1837 after Colonel George Lambert who helped reshape the upper Mississippi for steamboats.  After Father Lucien Galtier built a chapel to the Apostle Paul nearby in 1841 people started calling the city St Paul instead which stuck when the city was officially established in 1849.  By 1858 the landing saw over 1000 boats a day and expanded toward today’s Lower Landing Park.  The landing is why this area of St Paul is nicknamed Lower Town.

*From the fountain-line Kellogg Mall Park you have great views of the Mississippi River and… 6. Raspberry & Harriet Islands:  Before leaving the River Plaza Park notice the Island sitting right in the middle of the Mississippi called  Raspberry Island .  This former Naval training center is often confused for popular  Harriet Island which is a little further West on the River and is no longer an island at all.  Harriet Island was named after Harriet Bishop who became the city’s 1st public school teacher in 1847 and the land was donated to the City by Dr. Justus Ohage in 1900.  Ohage was a successful surgeon, the first health director of St Paul and wanted the land to be a park to be centered on hygiene.  That might sound a little weird, but public baths and a beach were set up making the park was a huge hit.

Unfortunately by 1919 the water and beach became so polluted the park had to close after only 19 years.  Since then many changed have happened from extensive cleanup and restoration to the east side channel being filled in 1950 connecting the Island to the mainland.  Today Harriet Island holds many ethnic festivals, large music concerts, is home to the popular Mississippi Steam Boat Cruises , and is the sight of the Twin Cities best fireworks on the 4th of July.  The best place to view these fireworks from Upper Landing Park on the St Paul side of the River.  If you choose to take a boat ride it is interesting to know that the islands have housed the Minnesota Boat Club all the way since 1870.

7. Ramsey County Courthouse: Built in 1932, the 21 story Ramsey County Courthouse remains one of the best Art Deco buildings In the Twin Cities.  The building had been financed in 1929, but because of the 1929 stock market crash, everything ended up being much cheaper so they were able to add a ton of marble, wood carvings, and other fancy details.

Today the main attraction is the amazing  Vision of Peace Statue in the courthouse’s Memorial Hall.  The Statue depicts a Native American man standing stoically and is the World’s largest carved onyx figure at 36 feet tall and weighing in at 120,000 pounds.  The Vision of Peace was made as a dedication to the war veterans of the county in hope of everlasting peace.  When sculptor Carl Milles completed the Statue in 1936 he said he was inspired by the peace pipe ceremony he attended in Oklahoma.  We love not only how the huge Statue slowly rotates on a motorized platform, but also how it reflects in the gold mirror ceiling of Memorial Hall.

If you don’t make it to the historic offices on the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th floors at least make sure to take in the hard lines and use of lighting of the Art Deco Architecture.  Another great example of this predominant style is the detailed industrial images that almost come to life on the golden bronze doors of the 1st-floor elevators.  The doors are a highlight of the visit and worth a closer look before moving on.  Visiting Hours:  Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.

8.  Science Museum of Minnesota : While the Science Museum’s huge riverfront location wasn’t built until the 1990s, the museum’s history actually goes back all the way to 1906.  At a meeting of the Minnesota Club, business Charles W. Ames proposed holding a series of free lectures on hygiene and sanitation of the city of St Paul.  These lectures quickly started covering other areas of Science and they gaining a museum collection in the St. Paul Auditorium.  After just one year of lectures, the Science Museum was incorporated and had gathered tons of natural science items including a real mummy from Egypt.  The Museum continued to grow fast and in 1927 had to move into to the huge Merriam Mansion on Capitol Hill which it completely filled to the brink by 1947.  In 1964 the museum upgraded again to the huge 80,000 square foot Science and Arts downtown, but even that space couldn’t hold it.  Another huge building next door was added on in 1978 which included one of the World’s 1st Omnitheater.  The gigantic double IMAX wraparound screen was designed by Firm Ellerbe Becket which also designed a few of Summit Avenue’s mansions.  This huge screen was transferred to the current location in the 1990s along with permanent interactive exhibits ranging from electricity to prehistoric fossils.

Today all of the exhibits are kid-friendly but they also include various traveling exhibits such as King Tut, Mayan and the Real Pirates which are enough to entertain any adult as well.  One of the coolest collections in the Science Museum came when Bob McCoy willed them items from his Museum of Quackery and Medical Frauds ( website )  in 2002.  While they only display a fraction of Bob’s items it is interesting to still the crazy things that scammers would pass off as medical treatments.

Hours:  Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday 9:30am-5pm; Thursday-Saturday 9:30am-9:30pm; Closed Mondays.   Cost:  Adults $13, Kids $10; Omnitheater and traveling exhibits are extra but if you want to see all the sights and experiences expect $28 for Adults and $19 for kids.   Annual Memberships:   Annual memberships can cover up to 4 people’s admission for the year for just $99.   Museum Website:  ( HERE ).

9.  James J Hill Center  &  Central Library :  Although he had no formal education, local railroad tycoon James J Hill was set on making literature accessible in Saint Paul. This drive began shortly after Saint Paul’s 1st public library opened in 1882 as Hill gave a donation to help Macalester College make their library fireproof.  In 1909 the City Mayor started a push to build a much larger public library in Downtown Saint Paul and the current Rice Park location was selected.  With a funding shortage, Jame J Hill stepped in a donated $700,000 toward the project to help break ground in 1914.  The start of the new building was perfect timing as just a year later the library it was replacing and its 158,000 books were destroyed in a large fire.

The Western end of the Italianate complex housing the new  Central Library  was the first part to open in 1917.  Lined with marble, it is a library meany to impress.  Start your visit up on the 3rd floor in the  Magazine Room , also known as the Greenleaf Clark Room.  Clark was a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice who donated heavily to building the room which has a beautiful ceiling.  Heading down to the 2nd floor to see the  Nicholson Commons  with floor-to-ceiling windows, hand-painted exposed beams, hanging Medieval chandeliers.  A special collection includes works by and about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his time in Saint Paul.

One of the most beautiful spaces in the entire Twin Cities is the  James J Hill Center  on the East side of the library complex.  This grand reference library was set to be Hills’ pride and joy, but he died five years before the grand opening in 1921.  Hills donations gave him influence on the design which was modeled after the  JP Morgan Library in Manhattan. The books one hand focus on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship.  One step into the spacious book-lined hall and you’ll know why so many weddings are held here.  The center is accessible from the 2nd floor Nicholson Commons and 1st floor entrance facing Rice Park.

James J Hill Center Visiting Hours : Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm; Closed Friday-Sunday.   James J Hill Center Guided Tours : Free guided tours available every 3rd Thursday at 10:30am.  James J Hill Center Website:  ( HERE ).   Central Library Hours : Monday Noon-8pm; Tuesday-Friday 9am-5:30pm; Saturday 11am-5 pm; Sunday 1-5 pm.   Central Library Website:  ( HERE ).

*Working your way back through West side of the Library you’ll see the…

10.  Ordway Performing Arts Center : In 1980 Sally Ordway carried on her father Lucius P. Ordway’s passion for the arts and pushed for a new theater in St Paul.  She wanted the new theater to perform “ everything from opera to the Russian circus ” and knew it would help broaden the City’s culture.  Including $7.5 million of her own money, Sally raised $46 million for the arts center’s construction was completed in 1985.  Today the Ordway Center is the heart of St Paul’s arts and culture with a 1,800 person theater hosting its biggest events.  In addition to traveling dance and music shows, the Ordway also hosts a great season of Broadway shows and musicals. Herb statue out front.  Sitting right behind the Ordway is the 4,000 seat Roy Wilkins Auditorium  which is home to the  Minnesota Roller Girls , a semi-professional female Roller Derby Squad which competes in the WFDTA.   Theater Website:  ( HERE ).

11. Rice Park:  Beautiful Rice Park is commonly called the outdoor living room of St Paul and has the perfect city center location made possible by Henry Rice. Rice had originally come to St Paul in 1839 to work as a fur trader in Fort Snelling.  During his time at the Fort, he worked with local Native groups to negations important treaties in 1947 which made Rice very wealthy through land acquisition.  Among the land he acquired, Rice donated the plot for Rice Park to the City in 1849 and sold other chunks making him rich.  The fresh money helped Rice fund runs for political office where he was elected as a Territorial Congressman ( 1853-57 ) and fought hard to get Minnesota its statehood.  After Minnesota won statehood, Rice became one of Minnesota’s first US senators ( 1857-63 ), plus later a regent of the University of Minnesota, President of the Minnesota Historical Society, and Ramsey County Treasurer.

Today Rice Park is mainly covered in concrete with a central fountain which can be kind of blah, but the Park really comes to life in the Winter.  Since 1886 Rice Park has been one of the locations for the St Paul Winter Carnival each January and usually holds many of the festival’s ice sculptures. If you miss the Winter Carnival the sea of Christmas lights added to the Park’s trees from December through February a still a real treat.  Even in the Summer months take a second to stroll through the park at least to check out the statue of local author F Scott Fitzgerald who wrote the Great Gatsby and the numerous statues of Peanuts characters.  Why Peanuts?  The creator of the classic cartoon and its characters from Charlie Brown to Snoopy, Scott Schultz, is from St Paul.   Park Hours:  In an effort to curb homeless squatters, the park is only officially open from 7:30am-9:30pm.

12.  Saint Paul Hotel :  The Saint Paul Hotel was originally built as the Windsor Hotel in 1878, replacing a previous 60 room hotel that had burned down.  Due to poor management issues in the early 1900s, the Windsor was only being used as a theater until Lucius P. Ordway bought it in 1908 and turned it into a luxury hotel.  Ordway was a local investor who got super rich when he risked $100,000 to bring struggling 3M from Duluth to St Paul.

Famous early guests of the revamped hotel included James J Hill and Bishop John Ireland.  One of the most interesting guests has been actor Gene Autry who, in 1947, checked in for a week with his Rodeo horse named Champion.  Even President JFK visited the hotel in the 1960s but soon after the hotel started to quickly decline as the new highway bypassed St Paul.  The owners had to start selling everything off from furniture, silverware and more until local investors stepped in to remodel the hotel in 1982.  They did a great job during the remodel restoring the Hotel to its glory days of the early 1900s  including buying back all the original furnishings.  Since then the St Paul Hotel has been a jewel in accommodations for the City with over 3 decades of being a AAA 4 Diamond Hotel.  Hotel Website:  ( HERE ).

13a.  Landmark Center : The old Federal Courthouse, known as the Landmark Center, is one of the coolest buildings in the Twin Cities and has been a powerful community icon since construction started in 1892.  At the time, the City of St Paul was on the edge of the American frontier with dirt roads and small wooden buildings so the Government wanted to make a statement with its new powerful building.  Construction started with 12-foot-thick granite walls giving the Courthouse a sturdy base and branched out into tons of hand-carved stonework original and woodwork.  The amount of detail used inside and out is mind-boggling and it’s no wonder that the building took 10 years to finish the Courthouse.  The hand-carvings are so intricate that even some of the smallest ones took up to a week to finish.  Our favorite element of the exterior is the huge North Tower which was added during construction because the Federal offices already needed more room.  Today the North Tower offers great views of the city.  Before going inside, notice how the windows, arches, and tower cones all get smaller on each floor you move up which architecturally breaks up the facade.  Through the decades, scores of immigrants have looked up at the powerful exterior on their way to take the oath of citizenship which still takes place at Landmark Center today.

Once inside, head right for the huge Cortile room which resembles a large Roman bathhouse.  This columned inner courtyard was originally built as the St Paul Federal Post Office and had a glass ceiling so supervisors could watch their workers from the 2nd floor.  Also on the 2nd floor are other cool rooms including the 1920s federal courtroom, FBI and secret service offices where many historic laws and court cases ( explained below ) took place.  Sitting above it all, the 3rd floor roof was also made of glass creating a huge skylight shining throughout the building. It was designed like this not only to be pretty stained glass, but also for function as electric lights were new and untested at the time.

In the 1950s the glass roof was covered up and florescent lights were brought in to reflect the style of the day, but it was luckily changed back to the original skylight grandeur during modern-day restorations.  These modern restorations can on the of the building almost being torn down in the 1970s after it fell in the dumps.  It took fundraising of over $10 million to save the despaired building.  During the restorations, almost everything was brought back to the original as they found old photos and 600 detailed drawings in the old post office to serve as a guide.  One of the biggest hurdles was replacing the roof tiles on some homes, but the company that did the original tiles was still in business almost 100 years later and they still had the original tile molds. The restoration took six years from 1972-78 as they had to wash off years of soot that had turned the outside grey, had to restore, restored plaster and woodwork.

Lost in history is that the Landmark center actually had a twin building finished in 1895 that was used as St Paul City Hall.  The building stood at Fourth and Wabasha and replaced a previous City Hall built in 1851.  Unfortunately, it didn’t have the longevity of Landmark Center as it was torn down in the 1930s to make way for yet another City Hall building.  Free Guided Tours:  Thursdays 11am & Sundays Noon.   Outdoor Staking Rink:  Each December and January local businesses sponsor an outdoor staking rink the plaza next to Landmark Center.  Center Website:  ( HERE ).

13b.  Famous Court Cases @ Landmark Center :  Throughout the decades after it opened, there were a ton of important Federal Laws and court cases with roots at Landmark Center.  One of the first major cases at Landmark came in 1902 when James J Hill and JP Morgan tried to join railroads.  President Roosevelt thought it was a monopoly and ultimately the court decided the men had to break up the company under the Sherm Anti-Trust Law.

A series of laws restricting the freedoms of American citizens also came from Landmark starting with a push to prohibition in 1917.  Congressmen Andrew Volstead (R), whose office was on Landmark’s 5th floor was the biggest voice in the prohibition efforts.  In 1919 the 18th Amendment was established outlawing boozing and shortly after Volstead Act passed Congress which gave the government the means to enforce the Amendment.  This anti-saloon bill was named in honor of Congressmen Volstead for his efforts in prohibition and ironically led to an era of bootlegging in St Paul.  At the same time the 1918 Espionage Act and 1919 Sedition Acts were passed saying you can’t talk crap about government during War.  Teamed with the Red Scare (1919-1920) 1,500 people arrested under the laws but many fought their convictions up to the St Paul appeals court claiming it was freedom of speech.  The St Paul court overturned some of these convictions influencing later freedom of speech and appeals process.

St Paul politicians may have led the push for prohibition, but it ended up leading the way for the City’s corrupt police to make St Paul a haven for gangsters and bootleggers.  Chief of Police John J. O’Connor let the big criminals live freely in St Paul as long as they didn’t kill or rob anyone within the city limits.  Everything actually went surprisingly well until Prohibition was lifted in 1933 and the gangsters broke from bootlegging to more serious crimes. In the same year, 4 kidnappings happened which started to unravel the deal the police chief had with the bootleggers.

The kidnappings included brewery owner William Hamm and Edward Bremmer of Bremmer Bank by the Barker-Karpis Gang.  Ma Barker used the ransom some money to throw parties for her boys at their White Bear Lake cabin in almost a feat of showboating.  Her partner Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, who was #1 on the FBI’s most-wanted list was captured in New Orleans and brought back to St Paul for trial before being sent to Alcatraz for his years of crimes.  Other gangsters in St Paul included John Dillinger’s ( the FBI’s Most Wanted Bank Robber ) and his girlfriend Evelyn Freschette.  Dillinger escaped in a gunfight from St Paul to Chicago but many others were caught and held in the third-floor Detention Room, were tried in Courtroom 317, or faced down J. Edgar Hoover’s G-men on the court’s front steps.

14. West 7th Place:  Every Tuesday and Thursday in the Summer (Mid-June through Mid-October) a  Farmer’s Market takes place at the 7th Place Mall from 10am-1:30pm.  Palace Theater built in 1916, vaudeville theater Charlie Chapman and Marx Brothers, turned movie theater in 1947-1982, renovated in 2015 to reopen for concerts and movies.   Farmer’s Market Hours:  Mid-June through Mid-October Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am-1:30pm.

*One clock West of the Children’s Museums there is no way you can miss the flashing lights of the historic… 15.  Mikey’s Diner :   In the 1930s Mickey Crimmons and Bert Mattson were at a Restaurant Expo in Chicago when they fell in love with a streetcar display by New Jersey’s Jerry O’Mahoney Company. They ordered one right away and opened their 24/7 malt and burger shop open in 1939.  In 1983 Mickey’s became one of the first diners placed on the National Register of Historic Places which helped saved it from relocation during later urban development in St Paul.  Hours:  Daily 24/7.   Restaurant Website:  ( HERE ).

16.  Candy Land : Originally opened in 1932 as Flavocorn, Arnie Kelsy took the original popcorn shop over in 1938 and started adding full lines of unique candies.  By the 1950s Kelsy changed the name to Candy Land and it became a true staple of St Paul.  When Kelsy was ready to retire in 1981 he sold the Candyland to worker Doug Lamb who along with his wife Brenda greatly expanded their reach.  Not only have they opened two stores in Minneapolis, and expanded with national online sales, but they have been able to stick to the original recipe while maintaining a mom-and-pop atmosphere.  We love how each location has a Peanuts character statue out front as the creator of the Charlie Brown cartoons, Charles Schultz, was from St Paul.  Candy Land Hours:  Monday-Saturday 8:30am-10pm, Sunday 10am-9pm.   Shop Website:  ( HERE ).

17.  Minnesota Children’s Museum : The Minnesota Children’s Museum is connected to the Wells Fargo Building by the Skyway.  The Museum is a great stop if you have kids and is rated as a top 10 children’s museum in the United States. Farmer’s Market Hours:  Mid-June through Mid October Tuesday & Thursday 10am-1:30pm. Museum Website:  ( HERE ).

*While there is no need to go inside unless you are going to a show it is important to add knowledge about the nearby… 18.  Fitzgerald Theater : When Lee and J. J. Shubert open this majestic theater in 1910 it was originally called the Sam S. Shubert Theater in memory of their brother.  1910 was squeezed right between the Industrial Revolution and the Progressive Era in a time the common man was feeling the struggles of oppressive big business working them to the bone.  Because of this mindset, the theater was a huge hit with its family-friendly show that featured characters that were fighting for social justice and corruption of the press.

Starting in 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression, the theater started showing live movies and was called the World’s Theater for decades.  In 1981 local author Garrison Keillor brought his radio program  A Prairie Home Companion to the theater and had it renamed in the memory of another local author F. Scott Fitzgerald. The popularity of Keillor’s program helped the theater thrive and it even got back to its root of showing live plays.  Out of the newfound creativity programs like Mystery Science Theater and Minnesota Public Radio’s popular live Wits Series events have grown from the reborn Fitzgerald.  Making the historic theater is more interesting, tickets to many shows are sold with first come first serve to seat and the old world atmosphere can’t be beaten. Theater Website:  ( HERE ).

Other Nearby Sights:

19. 7th Street Bars & Restaurants:   Home to the Twin Cities best St Patrick’s Day Celebration, the bars, and restaurants of 7th Street can be a lot of fun.  Probably our favorite places to eat on 7th Street is Burger Moe’s  which has the best selection of innovative burgers in St Paul and the  Eagle Street Grill which has a nice patio and a mobster-themed menu paying homage to St Paul’s famous gangsters during Prohibition.  Our favorite places to drink are a pair of Irish pubs called The Liffey  which has a great rooftop patio,  Patrick McGovern’s which has an awesome solarium and is the hottest spot during St Patrick’s Day.

20.  Irvine Park Walking Tour :   One of the better hidden gems in St Paul is taking a stroll around the historic neighborhood of Irvine Park.  After the central park was donated to the City in 1849 the area quickly gathered stately homes and notable families from barons to Governors.  Over the years some of the wealthy families moved up to Summit Avenue but the neighborhood stayed strong.  Once the Great Depression hit, however, the area started a slow decline that climaxed in the 1970s when over 90% of the homes were nearly unlivable.  While a number of the mansions were torn down throughout the decades, other historic homes from around St Paul were moved here to fill the void.  Today Irvine Park is a pocketful of peacefulness right in the heart of St Paul giving you a small window into its past greatness.  And did we mention this walking tour holds St Paul’s most haunted home?

21.  Summit Avenue Walking Tour :  Littered with historic mansions and lined with lush trees, Summit Avenue in Saint Paul is one of the most impressive residential streets in all of America!  The 4.5 miles of Summit Avenue still holds 373 of its original 440 grand mansions built from 1855 through the 1920s.  Sitting at the head of the mighty Mississippi River, early day St Paul quickly became a trove of wealth from trading, lumber harvesting, mining, railroad expansions, printing, and many other endeavors.  The wealth came so quickly that by 1890 there were already 40 millionaires living near Saint Paul’s Summit Avenue.  As the community grew many of the wealthy families worked together, socialized together, and their kids even married one another creating many great storylines.

The main attractions along the impressive avenue are the gigantic Jame J Hill Mansion and the towering St Paul Cathedral. Also mixed into our walking tour are the homes of many influential families and people who have left their marks on the World such as F Scott Fitzgerald who wrote the American classic novel The Great Gatsby.

State Capitol:

MN History Center:

Wabasha Street Caves:  People used to grow mushrooms in the bluffs caves. Most are filled in now

Yoerg’s Brewery built into the bluff nearby dug a mile deeper cave for brewing beer

Castle Royal nightclub (1933 — 1940) was a gangster haven

U of M starting making blu cheese in the caves and when imports from France were cut off in WWII their business boomed to 3 million lbs/year

Land O’Lakes cheese cave from 1940 to 1959 and Kraft even had one here

Swede Hollow Park:  in 1884 the city added a ton of earth to raise 7th St by 15 feet to level out the tracks for the Street Car line to connect Downtown with Dayton’s Bluff to the East.  The stone arches cut under the road have served as the park passageway since the road was raised

At the north end of the park was the Hamm Brewery which opened in 1865 by German immigrant Theodore Hamm and was a nation brewery until 1997.

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$25 DEPOSIT:  $25 DEPOSIT: For itineraries 35 days or less, a $25 deposit applies to January 2025 & onward departures; for itineraries greater than 35 days, a $25 deposit applies to March 2025 & onward departures; World Cruise products excluded; call for details.

AIR UPGRADE:  Upgrade to Premium Economy air from $799 per person or Business Class air from $3,499 per person based on select gateways and dates. Additional airline-imposed baggage charges may apply; for more information visit  Airline Luggage Restrictions  . Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received. For more information about customized air services and US gateways, visit the Viking Air Plus page.

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS:  Cruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement savings are off applicable rates. Cruise fares listed are valid for U.S. residents only. All fares and offers are for new bookings only and are subject to availability, may not combinable with other offers except Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits and Viking Referral Rewards, are capacity-controlled and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Special fares are based upon published full brochure fares; cruise fares do not include pre-paid charges, optional facilities, and personal charges, as defined in the terms and conditions of the  Passenger Ticket Contract  which may be viewed elsewhere on this website. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights. Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call Viking or your Travel Agent. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete terms and conditions may be found in the  Passenger Ticket Contract .

AIR OFFER RESTRICTIONS:  Offer expires August 31, 2024.

NOTE: U.S. flights depart one day prior to check-in date. Paid Business or Premium Economy Class may require travel in economy on flights within North America or Europe. Premium economy is limited to specific airlines and we may not be able to accommodate based on aircraft type and availability. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights. Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received.

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St. Paul Grand Round

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St. paul grand round description.

The St. Paul Grand Round is a 26-mile route encircling Minnesota's capital. The loop was designed by Horace Cleveland, the landscape architect who also designed the Grand Rounds in neighboring Minneapolis. The project was envisioned in the late 1800s to link the city's parks and construction began in the 1920s along the Mississippi River Boulevard.

The south side of the route follows the Mississippi River on a multi-use trail from Indian Mound Park to the western border of the city. Part of this route overlaps the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail . The north side follows parkways and includes on-street routes.

Amenities, such as drinking water and restrooms, may be found in many of the parks that are connected by the route, including (clockwise): Hidden Falls Regional Park, Mississippi River Gorge Regional Park, Como Regional Park, and Phalen Regional Park.

The Grand Round also connects to several other trails, including the Bruce Vento Regional Trail and the Gateway State Trail , allowing travelers to reach many areas of the city.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking can be found in many of the parks that the trail connects, including:

• Hidden Falls Regional Park (1313 Hidden Falls Dr.)
• Mississippi River Gorge Regional Park (50 Mississippi River Blvd. S.)
• Como Regional Park (1199 Midway Pkwy.)
• Phalen Regional Park (1600 Phalen Dr.)

St. Paul Grand Round Reviews

THE NOT SO GRAND ROUND!

This was the my first time trying the Grand Round. I Started on Johnson Parkway at Indian Mounds Park which I have road before! The long delayed Johnson Parkway section was finished just before winter but already has had the start of the trail torn up and rebuilt. Also a center line dividing the bikeway was removed and now has a gash in the new asphalt leaving a visible gash line between Burns Ave to Stillwater Ave a needless of funding. The actual surface condition is the best, very wide, low traffic, meandering through mostly residential area until you reach Lake Phalen. At Phalen you run into heavy congestion and a one-way clockwise around the lake which would be a problem for those doing the Grand Round clockwise, you need to ride on Wheelock Parkway Road or loop Phalen. The lake area is beautiful a loop is wonderful though congestion but you may not wish to add 2 more miles to a 26 mile loop. Now staying on the Grand Round becomes confusing, no directional signage if you take the obvious natural path you will be force to loop the lake. You need to to make a 160 degree turn at the beach house, heading to the Phalen Dr & Wheelock Parkway controlled intersection where you cross to the parkways southside. Shortly after crossing to the southside lack of signage is an issue. There is a paved T bike intersection. One trail take many take is the one the follows along side of Wheellock Parkway, this is WRONG that is a walking path. You should make the 90 degree turn at the T crossing the southside of the ballfields to Cottage & Forest natural turn north along the eastside of forest which is a wide concrete trail. You return to the trail along side Wheelock, the same issue occurs westbound, stay on the wider trail even it is not the obvious natural choice. You continue to Rice St to cross with a stoplight. Trail condition in this area is from good to poor. After crossing Rice St There is no paved trail or even a street bike lane as erroneously mark that way here on TRIALLINK. This leaves you with the option of riding in the street or on the narrow concrete sidewalks. The bike trail picks up again in the center median of the parkway one block east of Edgerton St. Coming from the west the trail abruptly ends. Now from this point on until Wheelock ends at Como Park is great fantastic surface. This portion crosses over The Trout Creek Trail but you need to carry your bike down some stairs at the SE corner of that bridge. When you reach Como Park the loop around the lake is the opposite direction from Lake Phalen, one way counter clockwise. So from the east you take the northside of the lake, from the east the southside. Once you reach Lexington there is a signage issue again there are maybe 6 variations to choose to continue. The City needs to clearly mark which rout is the correct one for the GR. Most trails are good to fair! If by change you find yourself along side Como Ave you are in luck. Once you cross Hamline Ave there is a great bike trail along the northside of the street. Condition is perfect. This trail is along side the State Fair Ground and will be congested during the State Fair. This trail ends at Raymond Ave. This portion of the GR is omitted from TRAILLINK at this time. You go south on Raymond has no bike trail, only road bike lanes which you follow to Myrtle turn right and continue to turn left on Pelham. I find this section totally family unfriendly, too much traffic. Once on Pelham you are going to take it to the East Mississippi River Parkway. On Pelham at least there is a guarded bike lane, they are rubber poles, but that is better then nothing! Trail here is concrete and Good shape. Once you are heading South on the River Parkway you will see wonderful overlooks, mansions & monuments along the way. Maybe the best part of the ride. Trail is mostly good condition all the way to Gannon Rd. NOTE: Trail maybe closed south of Ford Parkway for construction. At Gannon Road is where Shepard Road begins. This section all the way on to Warner Rd is in great to good shape and ends at the conjunction of Fish Hatchery Trail & Indian Mounds Park Trail, But go straight which is the IMPT and climb the hill and use the pedestrian bridge and return to where I started at Johnson Parkway. There are a few Alternate variations that can be done but the city needs to clearly mark the route. Signs that are 10ft tall don't help but painting the name of the trail on the pavement would work.

Nice trail around St Paul

Does require a bit of riding on the street, but overall a very nice trail. Couple of good climbs... and a few good brewpubs on the route (plan accordingly).

A nice trip in Saint Paul

Nearby Trails

Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail

Length: 9.3 mi.

Indian Mounds Trail

Length: 2.1 mi.

Johnson Parkway Regional Trail

Length: 2 mi.

Battle Creek Regional Park Trail

Lower Afton Road Trail

Bruce Vento Regional Trail

Length: 8.3 mi.

Robert Piram Regional Trail

Length: 3.7 mi.

McKnight Road Trail

Length: 4.2 mi.

Lake Phalen Trail

Length: 3.2 mi.

Furness Parkway Path

Length: 1.3 mi.

Mississippi River Regional Trail (Dakota County)

Length: 25.2 mi.

Harriet Island Regional Park Trail

Length: 0.9 mi.

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