I live in Scranton, PA, and I'm interested in visiting the Twin Cities in the not-so-distant future, having heard about what a nice, attractive region it is. As an architectural buff, I'm looking forw
I live in Scranton, PA, and I'm interested in visiting the Twin Cities in the not-so-distant future, having heard about what a nice, attractive region it is. As an architectural buff, I'm looking forward to strolling down Summit Avenue in Saint Paul and along Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. Besides these two regions, where else in the Twin Cities could I find a nice collection of historic homes, preferably even some with tours? Thanks very much in advance for your help! :o)
I think you would really enjoy Stillwater. Just Google "Stillwater MN" and you'll have lots of sites to explore. One that I think is better than the rest is http://www.stillwatertraveler.com. There's a photo gallery out there as well. Many visitors enjoy staying in Stillwater, which is peaceful, relaxing (nice architecture) - yet it's still pretty close to St. Paul (30 minute drive?). There are numerous B&Bs in Stillwater that are popular, for good reason.
If you want to stay on the West side of the Cities (versus to the east, where Stillwater is), I would recommend at least a visit to Excelsior. Here is the city's website: http://www.ci.excelsior.mn.us/
There are a number of historic homes open to the public. The James J Hill house & Alexandar Ramsey House are both good ones to go see and visitors really enjoy them.... I would recommend checking out this website: http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/index.html It's the Minnesota Historical Society's website listing of historical places. I'm SURE it will give you lots of ideas!
I've lived in MN for nearly 20 years, and travel at least twice a month. The more I travel, the more I appreciate Minnesota. I hope you enjoy our lovely state (but if you come in January - April, there WILL be snow!!).
A long, long time ago I grew up in the Kenwood section of Minneapolis and think you would find it fascinating. The house Mary Tyler Moore supposedly lived in was a block from ours. Kenwood Parkway intersects with Lake of the Isles Boulevard and they and any of the surrounding streets have all kinds of interesting architectural styles. We lived on West 22nd St, just off of Kenwood Parkway in an 1898 Dutch colonial. There was a "contemporary" house closer to the Parkway that was rumored to be a Frank Lloyd Wright, but was more likely by one of his students. There is a genuine Wright a few blocks away near Cedar Lake.
I lived in Minnesota for 45 years before moving to Arizona. You cannot go wrong visiting Summit Ave, the homes are magnificent. Make sure you visit the James J Hill House and stop in the St. Paul Cathedral Church fashioned after St. Peter's in Rome. The State capitol building is worth visiting and you can see it from the front steps of the Cathedral Church.
Also drive along the Mississippi River Blvd, both in Mpls and St. Paul. You'll hit the St. Paul side at the west end of Summit Ave. The houses here are just beautiful too.
In my opinion, the fall season is the best time to visit the Twin Cities when the colors are at their peak.
I too lived in the Kenwood area of Minneapolis a long time ago. I lived on Kenwood Parkway a few doors down from the "Mary Tyler Moore" house. Wonderful area to grow up in and the architecture is devine.
Have not lived in St. Paul in over 25 years but still "visit" the great old homes whenever we return. The neighborhoods surrounding Summit Avenue, additional great examples of homes. Lots of renovation has occured over the years. Grand Avenue has become very reatil, lots of it in the older homes that were there. Just turn off Summit and go up and down the roads, I'm sure you'll see plenty to delight! I am not aware of tours of homes, but since they do have tours of the old caves, I'll bet you'll find something.
Don't miss Stillwater. It was attractive enough to draw Jessica Lange & Sam Shepard to buy there [altho that home is for sale now]. Summer is the best in Stillwater but the views down the St Croix are nice any time of year. I also love the Lake of the Isles area....prefer it to Lake Harriet. The Swedish American Institute is in the historic Turnblad mansion. Also the Weisman Art Museum at the U of M is pretty spectacular. I wouldn't worry about the snow in Jan-Apr, but the occasional -30 degrees can be daunting.
When did you live in Kenwood? Did you go to West High? I was class of 1956. Did you ever see the wonderful Guindon cartoon of many years ago where a haughty mom is telling her daughter that "My dear, Kenwood is not a place; it is a state of mind."?
Forget the Twin Cities. Come to Duluth, MN which in the early 1900's had more millionaires than anywhere. We are on the shores of Lake Superior with a lovely Boardwalk-a bit brisk now but hardy souls walk it. B and B's in all kinds of historic old homes. Glensheen a mansion that is on the shores of Lake Superior with a tragic story and the ability to tour it. Canal Park area that has shops, antiques, restaurants and is by the ship canal with ships all over the world. Hurry though, winter is coming and the shipping stops. We have the Skyline Parkway which goes for miles and overlooks the city on the ridge that was left by the glacier. The world famous Hawk Ridge with hawk migrations is there. We have estate and rummage sales with great prices-not so many in the winter however. Duluth is safe and breath takingly beautiful. Fun art galleries and fun evening activities of all kinds-too many to choose. Duluth has a private college and the University of Minnesota so there are all kinds of interesting lectures.Then across the bridge is Superior Wisconsin with the branch of the University whose claim to fame it ARnold the Terminator who went to school there. Interesting architecture over there with some octogon houses. Look up our fair city on the Web. Much better than Mpls.
Glad to hear of your interest in traveling to the Twin Cities...A lovely area not yet mentioned is the "Tangle Town" area of south Minneapolis, alongside and around Minnehaha Parkway. Many interesting and varied homestyles follow the Parkway, tracing the route of Minnehaha Creek - culminating in the water falls made famous by Longfellow. Enjoy your visit!
I grew up in Minneapolis, lived downtown for 8 years, and was an architecture major at the University of Minnesota. Check out the beautiful Art Deco Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis. Architect Frank Gehry designed the Weisman Museum on the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. The Willey House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; check on tours for that.
IF IT HELPS YOU PLAN ON A VISIT TO THE SWEEDISH INSTITUTE. IT IS VERY INTERESTING WITH ABOUT L7 DIFFERENT FIREPLACES. DULUTH MN. ALSO HAS THE GRENSHEEN MANSION WHERE A MUDER TOOK PLACE A FEW YEARS AGO. GOOD LUCK JIM & EUNICE LUNDE
While I agree with what Inese writes about Duluth, don't ignore Summit Avenue, St. Paul or Kenwood, or Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis to go to Duluth instead. But Duluth does have Lake Superior, a true inland sea, Glensheen, and a great maritime tradition.
My suggestion is to prepare for your trip buy spending 14 bucks or so on a great book. "The National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota, a Guide" was compiled by Mary Ann Nord, and published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.
After you see the James J. Hill House (if you're lucky, you can hear a chamber music concert by the Hill House Players) and the F. Scott Fitzgerald house, you may want to visit two of my favorites. The Minneapolis Institute of Art (original building by McKim, Mead and White) has a very diverse collection of European, Pan-Asian and African art. The St. Paul City Hall-Ramsey County Courthouse with the statue of "Onyx John" (a Native American holding a sheaf of corn) in the lobby is as good an example of 1930's art deco style as Rockefeller Center in New York City, though a bit smaller.
If you buy "Historic Places in Minnesota" you'll be able to browse through it and pick out interesting buildings/houses to see.
I live in Northfield, about 45 miles south of Minneapolis, and we're justifiably proud of our historic district, several blocks of nineteenth century commercial buildings as well as residences of the successful businessmen who contributed to the early growth of the city.
The Minneapolis Institute of Art has a fantastic exhibit about prairie school architecture with information about specific house tours in the Twin Cities. Check out this link to gain more information about the tours:
DO NOT MISS A VISIT TO THE U. OF MINN CAMPUS AND THE LOVELY BUILDING THAT HANGS OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER....... YEP, THE OLE' MISS RUNS THROUGH THE CAMPUS....YOU DON'T HAVE TO VISIT BILOBA SPAIN FRANK GEHRY...THE ARCHITECT...SPECTACULAR ART MUSEUM.... AND THE SCULPTURAL GARDENS AND WALKER ART CENTER... FORGET ABOUT MARY TYLER MOORE!
Try looking at Google; check images; input titles like Minneapolis architecture, MN Frank Lloyd Wright, St. Paul architecture, Twin Cities architecture, etc. We also have some lovely theaters and performance spaces in the Twin Cities, and great live theater and music performances. Rarely do people use the IMAGES feature on Google, but I have used it with students designing projects, etc. It will give you a preview of what there is to see. Good Luck!
Its really very nice. So, please and If you can, give us some details about the building--where it's at, who designed it, when it was built, etc. And map your photos so everybody can find cool architecture.
