James J. Hill was a supporter of the first St. Paul Winter Carnival in 1886 and his son Louis served as Carnival president after its revival in 1917. Although first developed to celebrate St. Paul's growth and success, local business leaders hoped that the fun social gathering would prove once and for all that Minnesota was not an uninhabitable tundra. Celebrate the outdoor and the indoor activities of winter in Minnesota with special displays of Winter Carnival memorabilia, Great Northern Railway Winter Carnival uniforms, snowshoes and a luxurious wolverine carriage blanket. Tours of the house will focus on the Hill family’s involvement with the Winter Carnival and how they and other St. Paul residents survived and celebrated Minnesota’s most "famous" season.

Visitors can also participate in indoor activities of the time, including old-fashioned jigsaw puzzles and games made from household items. Guests can work on knitting, crocheting or small quilting projects in the Art Gallery and Drawing Room.

Winter on the Hill takes place Jan. 25, Jan. 26., Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, 2014. The cost is $9 for adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for MNHS members. $1 discount with a 2014 Winter Carnival button.

Completed in 1891, the Gilded Age mansion was the residence of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway, and his family. The home is located one-half block west of the Cathedral of St. Paul at 240 Summit Avenue. It is open for regular tours year-round, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sundays. Reservations are recommended. For more information, call 651-297-2555.

The Society’s calendar of events is posted online at www.mnhs.org/calendar. The website also has information about all of the Society’s programs, museums and historic sites.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partners: Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism.