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The Hills planned a house with the latest in modern conveniences where they could receive and entertain nationally known civic and religious leaders. Experience Christmas in 1910—both upstairs and downstairs—in the sumptuous Gilded Age mansion of railroad titan James J. Hill. Construction on City House began in 1927, and today it stands as an important reminder of Saint Paul's history as a Mississippi River port city.
Preserving History
It remains one of the best examples of Richardsonian Romanesque mansions in the country. A resource for reliable information about significant people, places, events, and things in Minnesota history. Solid, substantial, roomy, and comfortable is the new home of James J. Hill and family. There has been no attempt at display, no desire to flaunt an advertisement of wealth in the eyes of the world. Impressive, fine, even grand in the simplicity of design, but after all a St. Paul home.
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City House
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Visitors will marvel at the intricate wood carvings, stained glass windows and other surprises that adorn this gilded age treasure. Guides will immerse guests in the story of James J. Hill, his wife Mary, their 10 children and the domestic staff who worked in the home. Seasonal walking tours on Summit Ave. and Nooks & Crannies tours are available seasonally and with limited availability. Discover the splendor of Minnesota’s Downton Abbey — a 36,000-square-foot Gilded Age mansion — and imagine what life was like for the Hill family, their servants, workers, and guests. Take a guided tour and then explore the art gallery, which features Minnesota art and artists.
Summit Avenue Walking Tour
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 was home to the Saint Paul Diocesan Teachers College from 1927 to 1951. It housed various educational programs run by the nearby College of St. Catherine and administrative offices for the Archdiocese. The second floor was where James, Mary, and their daughters had their bedrooms.
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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 second floor contained Mr. and Mrs. Hill's rooms, two guest rooms, and rooms for their five daughters, Gertrude, Rachel, Clara, Ruth, and Charlotte. The third floor contained rooms for their sons James, Walter, and Louis (who later succeeded his father as president of the Great Northern Railway). It also had a room that served as a gymnasium and school room for the children, as well as quarters for the servants. In summary, the Minneapolis, MN metro area is a place with a rich history and a strong sense of community.
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.
Best Places to Live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
"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.
The house could be seen from the front on Summit Avenue, and from the back along the river and from downtown St. Paul. Unlike most neighboring homes, the Hills’ house featured finished facades on both its front and back. New residents should be prepared for the cold winters that come with heavy snowfall, as well as the hot, humid summers. It's important to have the right clothing and gear for the changing seasons. When it comes to voting, the Minneapolis metro area tends to lean towards progressive and liberal ideologies.
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.
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.
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.
When the house was completed in 1891, it was equipped with the most advanced technologies of the day. Built during the transition between gas and electric lighting, the house was designed to include both. For security, windows and doors were wired to an annunciator system that would ring an alarm in the houseman’s room if they were opened unexpectedly.
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.
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.
