Architecture Wonk - Part 1

See the Twin Cities by bicycle

One of the pleasures of living in the Twin Cities is the fantastic network of bicycle trails. I have covered a good percentage of those shown on the map above. Occasionally - not often - I tire of trail riding and look for alternatives. "Theme Rides" answer.  I've done church to church; cemetery to cemetery; college to college; Control Data building to Control Data building; sports venues; the bridges of Hennepin County; Minneapolis Lakes , etc. etc.  Great fun.

The latest idea was to sample some of the great - and not so great - architecture in the Twin Cities. What follows is a report on the first leg of the journey in St. Paul.

Architecture wonk - St. Paul leg

#1 Minnesota State Capitol building

A bit of a cheat, we rode the Green Line from US Bank Stadium station to Capitol station and our starting point, the Minnesota State Capitol Building

Under wraps

The beautiful Minnesota State Capitol building was designed by the renowned architect, Cass Gilbert, who also designed the Woolworth Building in NYC & the United States Supreme Court building. The Minnesota Capitol was completed in 1905 and in recent years has sprung numerous leaks and is now undergoing extensive renovation.









#2  Centennial State Office Building (the ugly duckling)

Uffda

What is there to say.  Built in 1958, this is one of many government office buildings that are less than memorable.













#3 Cathedral of St. Paul

The majestic Cathedral of St. Paul, with its distinctive copper dome, is of the classical revival style. The cathedral sits above downtown St. Paul on Summit Ave.  It was designed by French 'Beaux-Arts' architect  Emmanuel Louis Masqueray and was constructed between 1904 & 1937.  Its exterior is Rockville granite from St. Cloud and the interior walls are American Travertine from Mankato. It is a stunning structure inside and out and worth a visit if you are in St. Paul for a hockey game.





#4 James J Hill House (St. Paul)

James J. Hill was the noted (and notorious) tycoon of the late 1800's behind the Great Northern Railroad and known in his time as the "Empire Builder".  His mansion was built in 1891 on Summit Ave, a stone's throw from the St. Paul Cathedral.  It's style is "Romanesque". The mansion is on the National Registry of Historic Places.  The mansion is open for tours and I highly recommend it.  The pipe organ alone is worth the admission price. The curators are searching the country for the original furniture and have had some success.

An interesting side note: the house next door was built for his son and a stairway to the St. Paul below was constructed between the two homes. If you're in shape, you can climb those stairs today.


 






#5 Colonial Revival House  (St. Paul)

A Colonial Revival home has a "symmetrical" style with pillared entrances.  This style was popular from the 1890's and into the early 20th century and is quite common in the Twin Cities.

#6 Italianate

Italianate architecture with arched, hooded windows date from the 1860's to 1880's with several examples in the older parts of St. Paul & Minneapolis.  This example is on Summit Avenue, which features mansion after mansion, and was named one of the nation's "10 great streets" by the American Planning Association.

#7 Prairie School

The Prairie School, with Frank Lloyd Wright as its most famous member, was a mostly Midwest architecture trend of the late 19th & early 20th centuries.  Prairie School buildings are characterized by their integration with the landscape, fine craftsmanship and easily recognizable style.

#8 Arts & Crafts

Arts & Crafts design stems from the 1890's with examples to the current day. Low pitched roofs,  an open front porch & often with stained or leaded glass windows are typical design aspects of Arts & Craft homes.

#9 Victorian Gothic


Victorian Gothic or Gothic Revival architecture is most often seen on the nation's colleges and universities.  This example is Hamline University's Old Main.  The style features massive structure, narrow arched windows and a tower(s). The National Cathedral (Washington D.C.) and the Morman Temple (Salt Lake City) are the most famous US examples.

To be continued ...