This June, visitors to the James J. Hill House can enjoy tours of the historic home and concerts held in the art gallery. Completed in 1891 the James J. Hill House features a two-story sky-lit art gallery that was designed to house the Hill family's impressive collection of French landscape paintings, and to serve as a venue for music. With that in mind, Hill instructed the design of the room to feature excellent acoustics.

Hill House Chamber Concert
Date: Monday, June 2
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fee: $20 adults, $12 college students, $17 MNHS/Schubert Club members.

The Hill House Chamber Players will perform works devoted to Schubert, featuring "Arpeggione" Sonata for cello and guitar (arr. J. Van); Songs with guitar; and String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D. 804. The guest artist is renowned soprano Maria Jette.

The Hill House Chamber Players are Julie Ayer (violin), Tanya Remenikova (cello), Catherine Schubilske (violin), Thomas Turner (viola) and Jeffrey Van (guitar).

Complimentary refreshments are served during intermission and admission includes a tour of the Hill House following the performance. Co-Sponsored by the Schubert Club.

**THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED**
Piano Concert by Don Irwin
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fee: $27/$25 MNHS members.

Popular pianist Don Irwin returns to the Hill House for a summer concert in the art gallery highlighting music from his latest CD. The 90-minute solo concert will include some of his favorite contemporary music pieces from Italy. The concert will be followed by a light reception and tours of the Hill House, included with admission.

Nooks and Crannies Tour
Date: Tuesdays, June, July and August
Time: 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m.
Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MNHS members.
Reservations: recommended, call 651-297-2555

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the back staircases, dust chutes, silver vault and more on this 90-minute tour of the Hill House. Visitors will see the top-floor attic with original theater, take the back stairs to the basement, view storage areas not on the regular tour, and take a peek inside the gate house overlooking Summit Avenue. Guides will also discuss the technological innovations present in the house at the time of its construction in the late 19th century, and the difficulties of preserving such a building today. The 7 p.m. tours are led by a costumed interpreter portraying a construction worker or house servant.

Summit Avenue Walking Tours
Date: Saturdays and Sundays, May through September
Time: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MNHS members.
Reservations: recommended, call 651-297-2555

Take a 90-minute tour of the Summit Avenue neighborhood, named one of America's "Great Streets" in 2008. The walking tour highlights the Gilded-Age mansions and the people who owned them. Guides will talk about architecture, social history and current preservation issues during this 1.5 mile tour, which starts at the James J. Hill House, heads west down Summit and returns and ends at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

About the James J. Hill House

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.