September 23, 2010: St. Paul West Side Architectural Hike (St. Paul)

Join the hiking group for a hike to view the interesting houses and related architecture on St. Paul’s West Side. St. Paul's West Side dates back to early steamboat parlance. Even though the Mississippi river actually flows east and west at this point, steamboat captains always referred to the left bank of the river as they traveled up river as the "west side" of the river, no matter what direction the compass may point and the name stuck. The West Side is divided by steep river bluffs into two distinct neighborhoods, the Upper West Side, on top of the bluffs, and the Lower West Side or the Flats, an area along the river that was originally a working class and industrial neighborhood and is now the Riverview Industrial Park. West Side industries attracted immigrant groups to the area, beginning with the Germans and Irish who arrived in the 1870's. During the 1880's and 1890's, many eastern European and Russian Jews moved into the Lower West Side. By the 1920's, a large contingent of Mexican Americans settled on the Lower West Side. Since World War II, a number of Lebanese, Syrians, African-Americans, American Indians, and Southeast Asians also have settled in the area. The west side of St. Paul once was part of Dakota County and the City of West St. Paul, but was acquired by and made part of the City of St. Paul in 1874 in conjunction with the conversion of the Wabasha bridge from a toll bridge.

If coming by car: Take 1-94 East to the west edge of downtown St. Paul and take the Kellogg Boulevard exit. At the light where the off ramp junctions with Kellogg Boulevard, turn South (right) on Kellogg Boulevard and continue on Kellogg Boulevard past the Xcel Energy Center to Wabasha Avenue. Turn South (right) on Wabasha Avenue onto the Wabasha bridge, cross over the Mississippi River and continue to Isabel Street. Turn West (right) on Isabel Street, continue two blocks to Hall Avenue, turn North (right) on Hall Avenue and continue to the start point on the corner of Prospect Boulevard and Hall Avenue.

If coming by public transit: Take Metro Transit route(s): Applicable Metro Transit Map / Bus Schedule information

The group will reconvene at a nearby restaurant (Joseph's Grill, 140 Wabasha Street South) after the hike for dinner or dessert.

Map to hike start point: Hall Avenue and Prospect Boulevard
St Paul, MN 55107-1804

Specific directions for the hike

Specific house architecture and history information relating to the hike:

West Side Architecture/House History Hike, Part 1 ;

West Side Architecture/House History Hike, Part 2 ;

West Side Architecture/House History Hike, Part 3 .

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This webpage was last updated on August 26, 2010.