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The Boston firm of Peabody, Stearns, and Furber, which was known for its impressive mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, designed a massive Richardsonian Romanesque style mansion, then very much in fashion. The final cost totaled $931,275.01 including construction, furnishings, and landscaping for the three-acre estate. In 1978, the Archdiocese transferred the mansion to the Minnesota Historical Society, which preserved the building and developed educational activities. Since then, the house has been open to the general public for tours, interpretive programs, and special events.
Neighborhood walking tours
Its diverse economy, active political scene, and wide range of activities make it a great place to call home. New residents will find a welcoming community and should be ready to embrace the local climate and take advantage of all that the city has to offer. Admission includes self-guided access to the first floor of the mansion and a 60-minute guided tour of the entire house. Grades 4-12 Tuesday and Wednesday starting January 10, 2023 A visit to this grand Gilded Age mansion will challenge students to use critical thinking skills to discover how railroads transformed America at the turn of the 20th century. Grades K-3 Tuesday and Wednesday starting January 10, 2023 Students and teachers can discover what life was like at the turn of the 20th century in the grand mansion of Great Northern Railway president James J. Hill.
Holidays on the Hill
The area immediately in front of the site on Summit Avenue is designated 2-hour parking for visitors. Longer-term parking is available on the other side of Summit Avenue, and on the blocks to the west. Richardsonian Romanesque is also characterized by an emphasis on horizontal lines and heaviness emphasized here by the deep window reveals.
Saint Paul Insider's Guide
Charlotte Hill marries George Theron Slade in the drawing room, with a wedding procession down the main staircase and hallway. President William McKinley is received at the Hill mansion during his visit to St. Paul in October.
The Railroad Revolution
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Rooflines become complicated and picturesque through the use of projecting pavilions, including sleeping porches on the northern end and 8 chimney stacks. In 1925, family members purchased the mansion from the estate and presented it to the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul. For the next half-century, the structure served as an office building, school, and residence for the church. Mary T. Hill kept a watchful eye over the household, including the large domestic staff of servants. She hired maids and cooks, inspected the kitchens, and served as hostess at countless dinners and receptions.
Preserving History
The region has a history of being politically active, with a strong commitment to social and environmental causes. Residents are known for their high level of civic engagement and participation in political processes. It's located along the Mississippi River and is famous for its many lakes, including Lake Minnetonka and Lake Harriet. These natural features provide residents with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, and water sports.
Hill oversaw the planning, construction, and furnishing of the house as if it were a new branch of the railroad. He rejected stained-glass window designs by Tiffany and Company, saying they were "anything but what I want," and even replaced the architects when they ignored his orders to the stonecutters. He instructed his Boston interior design firm Irving and Casson to finish the project. Their work included a large number of custom furniture pieces on the first and second floors. In 1925, family members donated the house to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Plan Your Visit
Five bedrooms for up to ten female servants and two sewing rooms were also located on the third floor. A small theater and playroom were built in the attic for the Hill children and grandchildren. In 1882, James Hill purchased two lots on the far eastern end of Summit Avenue and selected the architecture firm of Peabody, Stearns, and Furber of Boston and St. Louis to design the mansion. Named for Henry Hobson Richardson, it was characterized by balanced asymmetry, imposing facades of rough-hewn stone, and rounded arches.
The home served as the center for the public and private lives of the Hill family for the next 30 years. Children grew up in the house, and four daughters had their weddings in the large drawing room. Newlyweds often lived in the enormous house until their own homes were completed, five of which were close by on Summit Avenue. Hill bought three lots on Summit Avenue in 1882, during an era when wealthy citizens were scrambling to build fashionable homes in the neighborhood. The street offered a commanding view of downtown St. Paul and the Mississippi River area, making it a highly desirable location. The family previously lived in the Lowertown area in St. Paul, near Ninth and Canada streets.
Built for railroad titan James J. Hill, this 36,000-square-foot Gilded Age mansion was once the largest private residence in the state. With 13 bathrooms, 22 fireplaces, 16 chandeliers, a reception hall nearly 100 feet long, sophisticated technical systems, and a two-story, skylit art gallery, the house was a symbol of success, personal taste, and family life. As his national reputation grew, Hill was also amassing an important collection of art. In 1882 he decided it was time to build himself a residence worthy of his status and large enough for his family of twelve. Neill’s house, the first residence built on Summit Avenue, sat on one of the lots acquired by Hill, who razed it to make room for a mansion designed by the renowned Boston firm Peabody, Stearns and Furber. The architects and over 400 craftsmen began working on 240 Summit Avenue in 1888.
Some locations, including the attic and gate house are not wheelchair accessible. The two-story art gallery was built for Hill's magnificent art collection, consisting mainly of Barbizon School of mid-19th century landscape painters. Retractable iron grilles on the windows and doors provided security for the collection and the family's other valuable possessions.
"I feel it is necessary to know just where everything is and how it is," she commented in her diary. A reception was held on September 5, 1895, for Monsignor Francesco Satolli, the first Apostolic delegate to the United States from the Vatican. When President William McKinley visited in 1899, Mary Hill remarked in her journal that the evening was pleasant and quiet. The economy in Minneapolis is diverse and strong, fueled by industries like finance, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. This has created a competitive job market with a wide range of employment opportunities. The presence of several large corporations also contributes to the city's economic stability.
Our top priority is to maintain a safe environment for visitors, staff, and volunteers. More than three hundred skilled craftsmen built the house over the next three years. Sitting on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and the city of St. Paul, the 36,500-square-foot, forty-two-room James J. Hill House stands as a monument to the man who built the Great Northern Railway.
The mansion cost a total of $931,275, the most expensive house in Minnesota when it finished, and the largest in the state as well. In 1925, the mansion was given to the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and for the next 50 years, it served as an office building, school, and residence for the church. The structure became a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and in 1978 the Minnesota Historical Society purchased the house with funding from the federal government and the Minnesota Legislature. The first floor, in addition to the art gallery, music room, hall, and formal dining room previously mentioned, also had a library, a drawing room, and Mr. Hill's home office.
Much of the art collection was later given to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which Hill helped found in 1915. The Minneapolis, MN metro area has a deep history that goes back to when Native American tribes, including the Dakota and Ojibwe, first lived in this area. European settlers came in the 19th century, founding the city of Minneapolis in 1867. The region became known for its timber and flour milling industries, which helped it grow and prosper. Today, Minneapolis is a bustling city with a strong economy that includes Fortune 500 companies like Target, Best Buy, and General Mills.
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