The Gilded Age mansion of "The Empire Builder"
James J. Hill House
The Gilded Age mansion of
"The Empire Builder"
| Day | First Tour | Last Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | No public tours | |
| Tuesday | No public tours | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am | 3:30 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am | 2:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am | 3:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am | 3:30 pm |
| Sunday | Self-Guided Sundays | |
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Adults | $10 |
| Seniors (65+) Active military and veterans College students |
$8 |
| Children ages 5-17 | $6 |
| Children age 4 and under | Free |
| MNHS members | Free |
Explore upstairs and downstairs life in Minnesota's Downton Abbey — a 36,000-square-foot mansion built for railroad titan James J. Hill.
House tours
House tours
Guided House Tours
Wednesday through Saturday, May – September
Learn about James J. Hill’s influence on the region and about his network of family members, servants, workers, and guests. Marvel at the impressive house details such as chandeliers, stained glass, and hand-carved woodwork sprawled throughout the home. Last tour is at 3:30 pm.
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Self-Guided Sundays
Sundays, May – September
Visit the James J. Hill House as the Hill family and their servants would have, without a guide. Spend more time in your favorite rooms and go at your own pace to explore the first, second, and third floors of the mansion. Last entry is at 3:30 pm.
Get ticketsSpecial events
Special events
Summit Avenue Walking Tour
May–September
Saturdays and Sundays
Explore the architecture, social history, and preservation of one of America's grand boulevards on a 90-minute guided tour.
F. Scott Fitzgerald Walking Tour
May–September
Saturdays and Sundays on the fourth weekend of the month
Outdoor walking tours explore Fitzgerald's homes and haunts, and St. Paul's influence on his stories and novels.
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Spark! Tour for People with Memory Loss
First Tuesday of every month
Take a sensory-based tour designed for people with memory loss and their caregivers.
Get ticketsThe largest house in St. Paul
The largest house in St. Paul
The rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail, and ingenious mechanical systems of this magnificent Gilded Age mansion recall the powerful presence of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway.
With 13 bathrooms, 22 fireplaces, 16 chandeliers, a reception hall nearly 100 feet long, sophisticated technical systems, and a two-story, skylit art gallery, it was once the largest private residence in the state.
The home served as the center for the public and private lives of the Hill family for 30 years. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
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