Germans were one of the earliest immigrant groups that came to Saint Paul. As many of them became prosperous, they moved into Dayton’s Bluff and built substantial homes for their families. Several,…

People arriving in Saint Paul between 1900 and 1940 generally came by train through the Union Depot. In its heyday, this neoclassical structure served 282 trains and 20,000 passengers daily. The depot…

The State Capitol and Mall represent an interesting political history for Minnesota's African Americans. In 1868, the state's black population reached 759 people. That year, the state amended its…

The Agudas Achim Synagogue was founded by members of the Congregation of the Russian Brotherhood, though the locations and date of closure are not certain. It seems, however, that this building was…

Previously on the site where 345 Summit Avenue stands today, was a large Victorian house built by Augustus K and Josephine Barnum in 1879. Constructed for a cost of $15,000, the wood-frame house stood…

German-born Albert Koehler, who actually had the first name of Heinrich, was a foreman at Hamm’s Brewery. He married Wilhemina Hamm, the daughter of Theodore and Louise Hamm. Since there was little…

This sprawling Queen Anne mansion was built in 1885, for an estimated $13,000. Augustus F. Gauger designed the home for Albert Lindeke who was one of the founders of the Northwest’s largest wholesale…

- 265 South Exchange Street // Saint Paul, MN 55102 - Take a trip back in time to the 19th century and visit one of the best-preserved Victorian houses in the country; this was the home of…

- 538 Blair Avenue - Many houses were built on narrow lots, with smaller “mother-in-law” or alley houses built in the backyards. Although a few alley houses can be found in other neighborhoods,…

The area of West Minnehaha Avenue bounded by Victoria, Chatsworth, and Lafond was the home of Amherst H. Wilder Foundation headquarters until 2007. The site is now eyed as the future home for Frogtown…

The impressive house on the southwest corner of Lexington and Laurel Avenues (127 N Lexington) was built for Italian stonecutter Anthony Ambrosini in 1886. (Took out building permit April 30, 1886) He…

A few houses down on West Isabel is another French Second Empire home Yoerg Sr. built for his son, Anthony Junior, who followed him in the beer business. The other sons, Louis and Frank, did so too.…

After the Yoergs built their new brewery in 1870, It did not take long for competitors to show up: Brueggeman, Banholzer, Stahlman, Schmidt, and Hamm. The last two grew giant, with Schmidt's…

Although this vigorous Italianate house has lost its corner tower and part of its wraparound porch, it still offers many exuberant details, such as the attenuated columns and ornate brackets found on…

[Built in 1874, Assumption Church is] St. Paul’s oldest functioning church structure and a nationally significant example of the nineteenth-century revival style variously known as Romanesque,…

- 286-288 Thomas Avenue - This duplex, which was later converted into a fourplex, is built of concrete blocks. It was erected in 1907 and looks much as it did then with a simple entry and bay…

Aurora Park, also known as the Dale and Aurora Grounds or Comiskey Park, was Frogtown’s minor league baseball park. In 1895 Charles Comiskey started Saint Paul’s team in the fledgling Western League.…

Air travel was changing from a novelty to a serious form of transportation by the 1920’s. The federal government supported this new industry by paying to have planes deliver mail. Over 600 airway…

Ryan Park, at Thomas Avenue and Avon Street, was until 1974 the site of Benjamin Drew Elementary School. Benjamin Drew Elementary School was designed by prolific and prominent Saint Paul architect…

1010 Bandana Boulevard West // Saint Paul, MN 55108 Built inside an historic train repair shop in 1891, the Best Western Bandana Square has all the 21st century conveniences along with real train…