Another Adventure

We took another adventure into St. Paul today. This time we toured the James J. Hill mansion on Summit Avenue. (James J. Hill was the builder of the Great Northern Railway). The mansion contains approximately 36,000 square feet across five floors...42 rooms. It cost nearly one-million dollars and three years to build. We observed beautiful woodwork with elegant carvings, lovely detailed ceilings, grand staircases, gorgeous chandeliers and pretty stained-glass windows. The style is termed: Richardsonian Romanesque.

The home was completed in 1891 with all the modern conveniences....indoor plumbing (13 bathrooms), central heating and both electric and gas lighting.

The mansion is pretty bare. It contains very little furniture so we had to use our imaginations a bit. Photographs of family members, as well as, photographs depicting how the rooms had once been furnished and decorated, are displayed in each room.

I didn't bring my camera along this time since I wasn't allowed to use it at the last historic home we toured. So guess what? Cameras WERE allowed. Disappointed that I was camera-less, my son graciously took a couple of photos for me on his phone and I purchased a few postcards in order to remember the day.

Fun Fact: James J. Hill's wife, Mary, was a waitress when he first met her. Before getting married, he sent her to a "Finishing School"  to acquire an education, as well as, the necessary skills and etiquette required of the wife of such an important and wealthy man!

Happy New Year!

Thank you for visiting my blog this year!!