June 11, 2009: Capitol Hill/Cathedral Hill Hike (St. Paul)

Join Larry Martin for a hike through the varied neighborhoods and historic sites on St. Paul's Capitol Hill and Cathedral Hill area. The hike will include visits to the Roy Wilkins monument, the Leif Erickson monument, the Christopher Columbus monument, the Women's Suffrage monument, the St. Paul Civil Rights monument, the St. Paul Western Art Park, the Josiah King/Civil War Soldiers’ monument, the Korean War monument, F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthplace, the James J. Hill House, and the historic Commodore Hotel. The Capitol was completed in 1905, designed by architect Cass Gilbert before events took him to Washington, D.C., where he designed the U. S. Supreme Court building, and to New York City, where he designed the Woolworth Building, the first true skyscraper and the tallest building in the world for a period of years. The Cathedral was constructed beginning in 1906, designed by architect Emmanuel Masqueray, who also designed the State’s pavilion at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and designed the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. The cathedral was built over the objections of St. Paul’s most famous resident of the era, railroad tycoon James J. Hill, because it ruined the eastward view from his mansion.

If Driving: Take I-94 to the west edge of downtown St. Paul to the Marion Street exit. Go north on Marion Street, immediately past the St. Paul Sears store, to Aurora. Turn east (right) onto Aurora and continue almost to the corner of Aurora Avenue and Rice Street, to the parking lot on the northwest corner, just north of the Berean Baptist Church, near the State Office Building. Meet at the southeast corner of the parking lot.

If coming by public transit: Take Metro Transit route(s): 16, 94B. 94C. The closest bus service point is the corner of University Avenue and Rice Street. Applicable Metro Transit Map / Bus Schedule information

Interested hikers are invited to reconvene at a nearby restaurant, the St. Clair Broiler, Snelling Avenue at St. Clair Avenue, after the hike for dinner or dessert.

Map to hike start point: Aurora Ave At Rice St
St Paul, MN 55103

Cathedral Hill Hike Directions

Architectural and Historical Notes For the Cathedral Hill Hike

F. Scott Fitzgerald House photos

James J. Hill Residence photos

Pictures of Capitol hill monuments

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This webpage was last updated on May 28, 2009.