Minnesota’s Storied City: A Self-Guided Tour of Downtown St. Paul
Description
Explore the rich history of St. Paul on this self-guided walking tour, starting at Rice Park in front of the Landmark Center, St. Paul's cultural hub. Stroll along the Mississippi River and uncover the city's early history, from the Dakota village of Kaposia to the Beaux Arts-style Union Depot. Walk through Lowertown to Mears Park, past modern architecture, and on to the Minnesota State Capitol. Along the way, hear stories of “Pig’s Eye” Parrant, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and St. Paul’s gangster past while discovering the city's rivalry with Minneapolis. This tour brings to life the characters, events, and landmarks that shaped the "Saintly City."
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pass by the Landmark Center, often called “St. Paul’s very own castle,” which once housed federal courts that handled notorious Prohibition-era gangster trials. Now a cultural hub, its Romanesque architecture stands as a testament to the city's rich history.
Stroll through Rice Park, a charming public space surrounded by historic landmarks and statues, including one of famed author F. Scott Fitzgerald. This park has been a gathering place for over a century, nestled in the heart of downtown St. Paul.
As you pass Union Depot, imagine the days when this Beaux Arts-style station buzzed with trains and travelers. Once the gateway to the city, today it's a beautifully restored hub for modern transit and a window into the past.
Walk through Mears Park, a green oasis in Lowertown surrounded by modern architecture and art installations. Its serene setting contrasts with its history as a center of industry in St. Paul’s past.
As you pass the Fitzgerald Theater, the oldest theater in St. Paul, remember that it was originally known as the Sam S. Shubert Theater. It’s a fitting tribute to F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the city’s most famous literary figures.
Gaze upon the magnificent Minnesota State Capitol, designed by Cass Gilbert, and learn how the young architect won the competition to build it. This stunning building, with its gilded quadriga statue, is a symbol of the state’s political and architectural heritage.
Pause by the Herb Brooks Statue, which honors the legendary coach who led the U.S. hockey team to victory in the 1980 Olympics. His connection to St. Paul is a point of pride for the city, which has deep hockey roots.
Pass by CHS Field, a modern ballpark that is home to the St. Paul Saints baseball team. Its location in Lowertown ties into the neighborhood’s transformation from industrial hub to vibrant community space.
As you walk past the St. Paul Farmers' Market, consider its long history as a gathering place for local farmers and vendors. It reflects the city’s connection to the agricultural traditions of Minnesota.
Marvel at the Quadriga, the golden chariot statue atop the State Capitol, symbolizing the progress of the state. Its intricate design, including pineapple hubcaps, represents wealth and hospitality.
Pass by the statue of F. Scott Fitzgerald, commemorating the beloved author who was born and raised in St. Paul. His literary contributions immortalized the city's influence on his work.
As you pass the Minnesota World War II Memorial, reflect on the sacrifices made by Minnesotans during the war. This serene monument honors the state’s veterans and serves as a reminder of the impact of global events on local history.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The total tour duration is the walking time as you pass by attractions. It does not include optional time spent at any of the listed attractions
- This route is not wheelchair accessible, but it is a very easy walk suitable for the ages listed. The accessibility selections are accurate.
Reviews(7)
The tour was excellent!! The guide was very knowledgeable!! It was a good chance to see the city!! Highly recommended!!!!
The trail was obscured by too many construction zones. It's kinda interesting to listen to the guide's extensive history knowledge, but if you aren't aware of the area in advance, it's difficult to concentrate. Plus, the only parking available were the 2-hour-limit spots, which only added to the pressure. We returned later that day to look around the Landmark Center. The tour at least showed us the outside of that building.
Hi there, I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your experience. Can you email more information to support@voicemap.me? This way, we can identify if we need to make any updates to the route in order to avoid the construction. I'm sorry for your frustrating experience. Regards, Helene
The sign post is no longer there around the colon building. The narrator did an excellent job. Share nearest train stop for the starting point.
The tour takes you on a nice, reasonable walk around downtown St. Paul, and gives interesting history along the way. It ends at the Capitol, where tours are available most days starting at the top of the hour (9am-4pm), and that was a great add-on to the walking tour! We would have liked to hear a little less about F Scott Fitzgerald, and a little more about the park-island in the river and about other St. Paul notables. Overall, would recommend - if you take kids, you'd better plan a break for either the Science Museum or the Children's Museum, because they WILL notice!
This was very fun. We are from Boston so didn’t know much about St Paul. We got a nice review of the history, were entertained by the stories and enjoyed walking around the city. It took us about 1 1/4 hours as it said it would, but you could spend more time if you went into some of the buildings like the Landmark Center, library, train station and Capitol. We did go into the Capitol at the end but I wish we had gone into the others. We will be looking for more of these audio tours as we travel around.
We had a few hours to kill at our conference and this was a great way to get to know the city a little better. Very entertaining. Highly recommended.
This was an amazing tour. So much history here that you would never know! I especially loved the parts about the St. Paul/Minneapolis rivalry, and about the city's gangsters.
