Cheryl & Larry's 2015 Journey: Minneapolis - ST Paul Area

James J. Hill House - St. Paul
Hill began his transportation career in 1856 at 17 years old. After working 20 years in the shipping business along the Mississippi & Red Rivers, he along with several investors purchased the nearly bankrupt St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Over the next 20 years he grew the railroad into Canada and to the Pacific Ocean. Hill pursued a broad range of other business interests: coal and iron ore mining, Great Lakes and Pacific shipping, banking and finance, agriculture and mining. He was worth about $63 million when he passed away in 1916.
House completed in 1891 is only 36,000 sq. ft., 13 bathrooms, 22 fireplaces, central heating, gas and electric lighting, plumbing, ventilation, security & communications. Total cost with furnishings $931,275.01.
His wife and 10 children lived in the house for over 30 years. Hill himself spent little time at the house because he was always traveling on business.

One of the 16 Crystal Chandeliers

Pipe Organ in the Picture Gallery, we were entertained with this beautiful piece.

A picture in the Picture Room

Stained glass from a Boston firm

An example of the carved mahogany woodwork.

Cabinet that contained the wiring and communications, it has been brought up to code!

Dining room ceiling, engraved leather

Dining chair

Sterling silver place setting

Dining room, decorative wood carving panel

Original hand pump for the organ

Vermilion Falls, Hastings, MN.

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center

Bald Eagle on display

Bald Eagle in the sky, look closely in center

Gardens at the center

We took a walk along the St. Croix River adjacent to the center

Fort Snelling - Fort was built in 1819 to protect America's fur trade interests. Later the Fort was used to train soldiers from the Civil War to WW II.

Indian Burial Mounds - St. Paul. The Indians chose this high bluff over looking the Mississippi between 1500 - 2000 years ago to bury their dead. There are 16 mounds.