Joy in Minnesota featured on KSTP 5’s “Minnesota Live”!

One lone building stands surrounded by the parking lots in downtown Minneapolis. It is obviously an old building with an ornate architectural style, but why not just knock it down and build new structures to fill up this valuable real estate? How has this building survived so long?

Join me on a walking tour along the bluff top of the west side of Saint Paul. Many of the homes here were built between 1875 and 1910, making for a fascinating and historic adventure!

The Rau-Strong House (at 2 East George Street in West St. Paul) was designated a historical landmark for a lot of reasons, but to me it stands out because it was occupied by the original builder/owner’s family for 100 years.

The unusual stone home at 698 Stewart Avenue in St. Paul seems slightly “off”. It looks like a mixture of many architectural styles and, in this case, it is because this home has had many lives. In the beginning, it was home to a very controversial person you’ve probably never heard of.

Everyone loves a good plot twist, right? Well, the story of one of St. Paul’s earliest breweries has one of the best.

Martin Bruggemann did everything he could to build a successful brewery. In fact, he copied every step that another successful brewer made. 

The Minneapolis mayoral election of 1900 was pivotal in the history of our city. At a time when the city was ready to buck the boring old leaders and maybe try someone new, someone popular, an outsider with fresh ideas, they opened the door to a man unfit for office. It ushered in an era of crime that would tarnish Minneapolis’ reputation, cost a fortune, and harmed thousands of people.

James J. Hill’s mansion on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul is a symbol of his massive wealth and is a fascinating home to get a glimpse of what a wealthy lifestyle in the Victorian era would look like. However, if you really want to understand James J. Hill’s historical relevance in the business realm, there is another building that you should see.

James J. Hill was a force to be reckoned with. Not only in Minnesota or United States’ history, but worldwide. He was also a father. He and his wife, Mary, had 9 children that grew to adulthood. Their eldest child, Mary Frances (“Mamie”), was sharp, smart and independent, but a girl. James Norman Hill was the oldest son and the presumptive heir to the Great Northern Railway Empire, but in the end lost the throne to his younger brother, Louis.

James J. Hill and his wife, Mary had 10 children. Any family that large is bound to have a black sheep and in the Hills’ case, it was their youngest: Walter.

The Pillsbury Castle was opened for tours as part of the ASID Showcase after almost a year’s worth of renovations. Yes, it is THOSE Pillsburys. But which one?

Did you know that besides the landmark James J. Hill House at 240 Summit Avenue the Hill Family owned more than 10 houses along Summit through the years? 

A lot of people who visit the James J. Hill house on Summit Avenue have questions about this smaller building at the end of the driveway. Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT a carriage house. It’s a gatehouse (there IS a difference) and it served two purposes. 

Turns out being a “road to nowhere” comes in handy for Hollywood.

Wisconsin never misses a chance to remind us that they are a top-producing dairy state. But did you know that Wisconsin’s dairy domination is THANKS to Minnesota and our Alfalfa?

In 2024, the Minnesota Department of Transportation was a little embarrassed when they were notified they had misspelled a road sign in Saint Paul. Drivers were confused by signs with two different spellings. Ady? Ayd? Which one was right? Where did the name even come from? 

Minnehaha Creek is so pretty and winds its way from Gray’s Bay on Lake Minnetonka all the way to the Mississippi River. Visiting the waterfall is high on everyone’s Minneapolis “must see” lists, but not many people know that before downtown Minneapolis became the Mill District, this creek also powered six different mills. 

A few barges are always tied up at the Lower Landing today, making their way down the Mississippi River. A few steamboats operate tours out from a small landing on Harriet Island. Otherwise, looking at the landing today you would never guess that it was once the epicenter of transport into the Northwest Territory.

You’ve heard of Schmidt and Hamm’s, Grain Belt and Schell’s. They’re all great, historic, Minnesota beer brands. But the oldest, the original, the first doesn’t really roll off the tongue the same way - Yoerg’s.