St. Paul, Minnesota home to the most Victorian homes in America – on one street
The former Mrs. Porterfield’s boarding house is my favorite Victorian home on Summit Ave in St. Paul, Minn. F. Scott Fitzgerald, a St. Paul native, visited this home often as several of his literary friends boarded here. The prettiest street in the Twin Cities features the most Victorian-age homes in America.
Without a doubt, the prettiest street in the Twin Cities is Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minnesota. The parade of beautiful homes on this promenade runs nearly five miles, and according to Visit St. Paul, Summit Ave., also features 373 of the original 440 historic homes as well as “the longest stretch of Victorian-era homes in the United States.”
And you’ll find other charming architectural designs from other eras on Summit Ave. that’ll make you ask, “Why am I not living here?”* Architectural masterpieces such as St. Paul’s own Downton Abbey, the historic James J. Hill House(Great Northern Railway magnate), to a couple of St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald’s homes and stomping grounds (including a National Historic Landmark) to many more gilded mansions and architectural wonders all line the iconic Summit Ave.
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As a guest of the Minnesota Historical Society, I was fortunate to take 10 history walking tours in the summer and fall of 2019. Several of the St. Paul walking tours with the Minnesota Historical Society focused on the gorgeous Summit Ave. and Cathedral Hill neighborhoods. Local guides shared stories about the social history, architecture and preservation of these stunning mansions of St. Paul.
While the Minnesota Historical Society is currently open, check their website for the latest availability of tours and operational hours of their historical buildings. For example, the James J. Hill House on Summit Ave. is open a few days a week, but you can admire the 36,000-square-foot home’s exterior – and National Historic Landmark – that sits on three acres from outside the gates. For a behind-the-scenes look of what’s inside, take a virtual tour of my Nooks and Crannies experience at the James J. Hill House.
Note: With the exception of the James J. Hill House, all of the Minnesota Historical Society walking tours in the Twin Cities were exterior only; no interior tours of the Summit Avenue homes.
Self-guided Summit Ave in St. Paul, Minnesota tour options
Recommend parking near the James J. Hill House at 240 Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minn. to begin your self-guided tour of the prettiest street in the Twin Cities.
I recommend parking (lots of free curbside parking) near the James J. Hill House to begin your own self-guided Summit Ave. walking tour.
What’s the address for the James J. Hill House in St. Paul, Minnesota?
The address for the historic James J. Hill House is 240 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55102. It’s usually where I start when I show visitors the beautiful Summit Ave.
If you or other members of your party have limited mobility, then driving along Summit Ave. is also very scenic. It’s also important to note that that some of the sidewalks are uneven or cobblestone to preserve the integrity of the neighborhood’s history.
Summit Ave photo gallery and brief history tour
Video: A virtual tour of the beautiful and historic homes of Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Words will never capture the beauty of the historic homes of Summit Ave. So I’ll let the photos of the prettiest street in Minnesota do the talking.
Caption sources: Most of the content provided in the Summit Ave. captions are gleaned from my Minnesota Historical Society walking tour notes. For accuracy, I’ve also verified and/or gathered additional content from the Minnesota Historical Society, Visit St. Paul and Zillow websites.
240 Summit Ave. | The James J. Hill House
The historic James J. Hill House on Summit Ave sits on three acres.
251 Summit Ave.
This historic home located at 251 Summit Avenue was built in 1887.
255 Summit Ave.
This pretty home at 255 Summit Ave was built in 1900.
260 Summit Ave | Louis Hill House
Next door to the James J. Hill House at 260 Summit Ave. is a home he built for his son, Louis, in 1912.
266 Summit Ave. is for sale
If you’d like to live in a mansion from the Gilded Age, this home located at 266 Summit Avenue is currently on the market for $1.53 million (as of the post’s published date). It was built in 1884.
271 Summit Ave.
This lovely Victorian home is my second favorite on the beautiful Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minn. Located at 271 Summit Ave., this home was built in 1882.
275 Summit Ave.
This beautiful home, Charles Schuneman House, sits on a corner lot at 275 Summit Ave. was built in 1901. It replaced the original home, built in 1880, that was destroyed by fire.
302 Summit Ave.
For those living in the Twin Cities, you’re probably familiar with the ghost stories associated with the former Forepaugh’s restaurant. This historic home located at 302 Summit Ave. is the former home of Joseph Forepaugh who moved here in 1891.
312 Summit Ave. | David Stuart House
You’ll find the oldest house on the prettiest street in St. Paul at 312 Summit Ave. The David Stuart House was one of the original homes built on Summit Ave in the 1850s. Several other prominent Minnesota residents have also called this mansion home over the years including a Civil War general and a former mayor.
This oldest house on Summit Ave in St. Paul is one of my husband’s favorites – especially because the doorknockers remind him of Ebenezer Scrooge’s house in the black and white 1951 version of A Christmas Carol.
318 Summit Ave.
This beautiful historic home at 318 Summit Avenue was built in 1892.
332 Summit Ave.
Built in 1889, this historic home is located at 332 Summit Avenue.
335 Summit Ave.
This historic home was built in 1892 and is located at 335 Summit Avenue.
344 Summit Ave. | The Davidson boutique hotel
If you’d like to stay on the prettiest street in the Twin Cities, The Davidson Hotel (formerly Davidson Mansion) is located right in the heart of the historic avenue (344 Summit Ave.). According to The Davidson Hotel’s website, this English Cotswold Manor was the home of Watson Davidson who worked for James J. Hill’s railway company. Originally built in 1915 as a single-family residence, this boutique hotel features nine units.
353 Summit Ave.
This historic home at 353 Summit Ave was built in 1882.
365 Summit Ave.
This majestic home at 365 Summit Ave. was built in 1894. According to saintpaulhistorical.com, the owners of this house exchanged houses with Chauncey and Mary Giggs.
370 Summit Ave.
Summit Ave is perfect for a stroll in any season – and especially pretty in autumn when fall colors are peaking. A view of 370 Summit Avenue from across the street.
475 Summit Ave.
This beautiful home at 475 Summit Ave is one of my top three houses on the prettiest street in the Twin Cities.
476 Summit Ave. | Chauncey Griggs Mansion – the most haunted house in Minnesota
Yes, this four-story Victorian mansion on Summit Ave. with solar panels is believed to be haunted by up to six different ghosts. Built in 1883 by Chauncey Griggs (who made his fortune in grocery stores), you can find this historic home at 476 Summit Ave.
Considered by some as the most haunted home in Minnesota, the Chauncey Griggs mansion on Summit Ave. takes on a little more sinister look in black and white. Unless you’re my husband who started singing the The Addams Family theme song when he saw the pic.
513 Summit Ave. | Mrs. Porterfield’s Boarding House
Here’s another view (from across the street) of my favorite house on Summit Ave. Located at 513 Summit Ave, it was formerly known as Mrs. Porterfield’s boarding house when F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in the neighborhood in 1919. I believe this Queen Anne is a single-family residence today.
516 Summit Ave. | Former home of Nobel-prize winning Sinclair Lewis
A Minnesota native and Pulitzer Prize winner for Literature winner called Summit Ave. home at one point (or at least leased it for a year or so). You can find the historic home of Sinclair Lewis at 516 Summit Ave. Fun fact: Lewis declined the esteemed literary award as at the time he did not believe one author should be recognized over another.
599 Summit Ave; F. Scott Fitzgerald House (Summit Terrace)
One of the most iconic homes on Summit Ave is the F. Scott Fitzgerald House. Designated as a Registered National Historic Landmark, this rowhouse at 599 Summit Ave. was built in 1899. This is where he penned his first novel, This Side of Paradise.
You can find the Minnesota Governor’s residence at 1006 Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minn. The governor’s home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1345-1347 Summit Avenue: Pierce and Walter Butler House
This duplex located at 1345-1347 Summit Ave., built in 1900, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
2022 Summit Avenue; Dr. Ward Beebe House
A little different from many of the homes in the area, this three-story stucco house (aka Dr. Ward Beebe House) at 2022 Summit Avenue is a prairie-style home and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic preservation efforts in St. Paul, Minnesota
Most U.S. cities featured a promenade of showcase mansions in the late 1800s/early 1900s; however, they were destroyed as new developments replaced the historic homes. St. Paul is unique as they put laws into place to preserve the historical integrity of the homes. Although some of these homes on Summit Ave have been converted to apartments and condos, owners must heed the historical preservation guidelines.
What famous St. Paul native didn’t fall in love with Summit Ave homes?
It’s reported that St. Paul’s very own F. Scott Fitzgerald (who lived in a couple of different homes in this and nearby historic neighborhoods) was not a fan of Summit Ave. or anything ostentatious (“characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice”).
Here’s one of his oft-repeated quotes.
“Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald (Anyone else read that quote in Leonardo DiCaprio’s voice?)
On that note, this concludes my tour of some of the most beautiful homes on the historic Summit Ave. – the prettiest street in St. Paul, Minnesota. Keep reading to learn about some other nearby historic places of interest. And let me know which Summit Ave historic home is your favorite in the comments.
FAQ: Can I take pictures of the homes on Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minnesota – the prettiest street in the Twin Cities?
Yes. Although I still feel kind of weird taking photos of people’s homes on Summit Ave. I know someone who used to live in this historic neighborhood. He said that people taking pictures of his and other homes is part of the experience of living on the prettiest street in the Twin Cities.
When our tour with the Minnesota Historical Society stopped at one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s homes, the next-door neighbor came out and provided some additional insight about the home. And I spoke briefly with the owner of the allegedly haunted house (the Chauncey Griggs Mansion at 476 Summit Avenue). I’m pretty sure he wasn’t a ghost because he was winterizing the home and carrying patio chairs.
Of course, be mindful that families live in these homes and to always be respectful when walking through the Summit Ave. neighborhood.
What’s nearby Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minnesota?
As long as you’re on the prettiest street in the Twin Cities, make sure to stop by these nearby points of interest and historic places when touring Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minnesota.
633 Fairmont Avenue | Former home of Nobel Peace Prize winner Frank B. Kellogg
Just a few blocks from Summit Ave (approx. 0.25 miles) at 633 Fairmont Avenue, you’ll find this beautiful National Historic Landmark built in 1889. It is the former home of the 1929 Nobel Peace Prize winner Frank B. Kellogg (who also served in the U.S. Senate and as the U.S. Secretary of State).
Cathedral of Saint Paul
The breathtaking Cathedral of Saint Paul is located near the James J. Hill House on the corner of Selby and Summit Ave. in St. Paul. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Cathedral of Saint Paul is home to the Shrine of the Nations. The Shrine honors the national patron of saints of many of the immigrants that settled in Minnesota.
The Cathedral of Saint Paul offers weekday one-hour tours Tuesday through Friday with the exception of holy days and civil holidays. The church is also an active place to worship so tours may be canceled for other reasons. You can also visit on your own. Until then, here is the Cathedral of Saint Paul’s virtual tour.
The Commodore Bar & Restaurant
The Commodore is the old stomping grounds of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. They actually lived in one of its residential apartment early on. This cool art deco bar located at 79 Western Ave. features lots of mirrors, cold drinks, food and jazz music.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s birthplace
St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on the second floor of this historic home located at nearby 481 Laurel Avenue. He and his parents lived there until he was two years old.
Germanic-American Institute
The 140-year-old building located at 301 Summit Avenue is home to the Germanic-American Institute, a non-profit that focuses on the culture of German-speaking people. It’s also a popular venue for special events like weddings.
Nathan Hale statue – Daughters of the Revolution
You can find a statue of patriot Nathan Hale, donated by the Daughters of the American Revolution, at the corner of Summit Ave. and Portland in St. Paul. Minn. Hale, who was executed by hanging by the British during the Revolutionary War for spying, is known for his quote, “I only regret that I have but one life to live for my country.”
St. Paul Academy
F. Scott Fitzgerald attended the St. Paul Academy 1908-1911 and published his first short stories in the school magazine. The former location where Fitzgerald attended is located just off Summit Ave at 25 Dale Street North. Interesting note: While Fitzgerald’s first novel, This Side of Paradise, was an overnight success, The Great Gatsby was not well-received. It only become critically acclaimed after Fitzgerald’s death.
The University Club
The University Club of St. Paul was constructed in 1913 and is located at 420 Summit Ave.
I have hundreds of other images of Summit Ave – the prettiest street in the Twin Cities – and neighboring neighborhoods. Will save them for another time. Or come follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter as I will share more photos in the coming days and weeks.
Pin it for later: Prettiest street in St. Paul, Minnesota – Summit Ave. tour
Prettiest street in the Twin Cities – the historic Summit Ave
Twin Cities-based blogger sharing memorable emptynester, solo, family and girlfriend-getaway adventures, as well as my day hiking adventures (including all 66 Minnesota state parks), latest book reviews, and updates on my quest for the best adult mac and cheese.
Also two WIPs: historical fiction and psychological thriller
86 comments
It is a very pretty street! I think the house for sale is beautiful, but then, most of them are! You have great photos and I love the video!
Thank you so much and love that you loved the video of the prettiest street in St. Paul. When I saw the real estate sign for that home, I had to check out how much it cost. I would love to live there!
That’s so awesome you grew up in a Victorian home. When I was young, my grandmother lived on the top floor of a Victorian home. What I remember most is that there was a huge wraparound room that was our toy room. So that’s probably another reason why Victorian homes have a special place in my heart also.
Never did I know that there were all these Victorian style homes were in Minnesota! They are so beautiful, I love the property. Thanks for taking us on a little drive in your video.
I knew Summit Ave and the nearby neighborhoods had a lot of Victorian homes, but had no idea that they had that many and that it’s the most in the entire U.S. That’s pretty special. I’m so glad you liked the driveby video. That was just one section of Summit Ave. I’ll need to take a video of the other end closer to the Governor’s Residence.
It’s a really gorgeous street. All the houses have so much individual character, and plenty of history. Of course the Chauncy Griggs Mansion is the one that interests me most. 6 ghosts- excellent.
I’m not surprised! I started reading up on the ghosts but stopped as it was freaking me out too much. I do love all the different personalities of these homes.
These buildings are so beautiful, I love the Victorian architecture. Chauncey Griggs Mansion sure looks haunted. Not sure if this is down to your amazing photography though 🙂
I could imagine living there but not sure I have the $1.53 million spare.
You’re too kind! I think the B/W filter on the Chauncey Griggs Mansion did give it a bit of a more sinister look. I don’t have that kind of spare change either. One of the mansions was transformed into a boutique hotel (and kept its historical spirit) so would love to stay there some time.
Wow I had no idea St. Paul had such a gorgeous architectural history! And Victorian houses at that. I think the F. Scott Fitzgerald houses piqued my interest because I’m such a huge fan!! Would love to visit the twin cities 🙂
I hope you get to visit the Twin Cities one day. Summit Ave is one of my favorite places with all its history and beauty. It was cool to take the F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour and walk in his footsteps.
What a fun tour of the prettiest street in Minnesota! Older neighborhoods like this are so appealing because the houses are so different from each other. This street reminds me of the neighborhoods in northwest DC where I used to live. I used to love walking around them and gawking at houses I could never afford!
Wow! These homes are so beautiful and full of history and character. I would absolutely love to stroll down this street and explore the beauty and historical treasures of these houses.
I LOVE historic homes and beautiful neighborhoods. You’re making me want to visit. I really hope I get to someday. I love all the info you give about each home and the pics are fantastic!
I used to drive by these houses when I was in college and had no idea the history behind them. They were always just the street with the huge houses. So cool to read this post about what I took for granted. Excited to go back with new eyes!
So happy to hear you’re going to check Summit Ave out again with new eyes. I’m really enjoying my Minnesota staycation as I’m learning so many cool things right here in our own backyard.
Thank you! It was such a perfect autumn day when we took these latest photos on Summit Ave. On other tours, it was one of the hottest days of the summer and even one rainy day. Summit Ave is still the prettiest street in the Twin Cities regardless of the weather and season.
Thank you so much! Fall is especially a beautiful time to stroll through the historic Summit Ave – the prettiest street in the Twin Cities (maybe even Minnesota).
I had no idea there were so many historic homes like this in Minnesota. I love historic homes, have done a tour of them in Nola and Rhode Island. These are great though and impressive. Great street to create a ghost tour.
These houses are so cool! I’d love to check them out. I’d really love to see the one where F. Scott Fitzgerald was born. I love history and literature!
I love history and literature also! Loved taking the F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour…learned so much about him and Zelda and his St. Paul native roots.
It does appear that the Twin Cities Marathon does run by the historic homes on Summit Ave. – at least from the past couple of years. Of course, 2020 was different and it was virtual. That’d be awesome if you ran it…I’ll make a sign and cheer you on!
I visited several years ago but didn’t see such gorgeous homes! As a fan of the paranormal, you had me with the Chauncey Griggs Mansion! Thank you for this article. Love it!!!
Wow Karen! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this gorgeous street! I love the look of each of them and so glad the city decided to protect them so all could enjoy for years. Very cool that residents don’t mind photos being taken too. I definitely want to stay at the Davidson Hotel one day!
Summit Ave is a pretty special place for history and beauty…and am so grateful everyone is so inclusive to share this lovely neighborhood – one of my favorite places and things to do in Minnesota.
What a cool street! All those houses are huge, so I can see it would be fun to wander along and see them all. I love the idea of the 10 history walking tours.
Still, it must be so strange for the people that live there to have people taking pictures of their homes!!
I never thought of Minnesota as a place to visit, but your photos are gorgeous, so it’s definitely on my bucket list now when I’m brave enough to fly again.
We’re not flying yet either so am enjoying our staycation here in Minnesota. Discovering and rediscovering so many hidden gems throughout the state and the Twin Cities with lots of fun and educational things to do.
Minnesota is rich in history and beauty – natural and architecture. Hope you get the opportunity as there are lots of fun things to do in Minnesota and the Twin Cities.
What an impressive area. It reminds us of a town in the Finger Lakes of New York called Skaneateles – same era of architecture and wealth. We’ll jump over to youtube to subscribe now too!
Thank you so much! Love learning about our local history in Minnesota and these walking tours along the iconic Summit Ave neighborhoods were fascinating.
What a pretty street indeed in St Paul! And the city itself looks gorgeous as well. I’d love to drive or walk down Summit Avenue! Those houses are amazing.
Wow! What a beautiful parade of Mansions. We have a neighborhood simulate to that in Louisville, but perhaps not quite as many homes. While I love looking at them from the outside, I always think they would be a bit creepy to live in or grow up in. I really liked the yellow one that belonged to a Nobel prize winner.
Thank you! I’m sure Louisville has some beautiful neighborhoods like this as well. That yellow one is a bit different from the others – although all of them are pretty unique.
We really do need to plan to visit the Twin Cities. I love the detail in Victorian homes and would spend hours wandering the streets in an area known for the most Victorian homes in America. The variety in the design is fascinating. And cool to find so many big houses have been restored. It would be hard to pick my favourite.
I hope you get the opportunity to visit the Twin Cities. I especially love the beautiful historic homes on Summit Ave in St. Paul, Minn. it’s difficult for me yo pick my favorite Victorian home.
I need to take a walk down this part of Summit Ave! I’m usually on a different part of Summit and I can see I’m really missing out. Love love these historic homes, and your fabulous photos.
Thank you so much! I’m always mesmerized by the history and beauty of the Summit Ave homes. And the avenue of gorgeous homes stretches for five miles so lots to see and admire!
Wow, Summit Avenue is definitely a stunner! I live in a historic neighborhood in Baltimore & love walking around admiring all the lovely homes. Love the reminder to be respectful of people’s homes! I love to photograph beautiful homes, but also feel a little weird doing so 😅
A historical walking tour is a great way to see the streets and houses. And learn more about the history too. Your post can help to create a good self-guided tour along Summit Ave. and move at your own pace. I might be tempted to wait for an open house for the lovely old house that was for sale on Summit Ave.!
It is a very pretty street! I think the house for sale is beautiful, but then, most of them are! You have great photos and I love the video!
Thank you so much and love that you loved the video of the prettiest street in St. Paul. When I saw the real estate sign for that home, I had to check out how much it cost. I would love to live there!
Summit Ave is adorable! I love old Victorian style houses.
I love the Victorian homes also – especially the ones on Summit Ave – so many!
Victorian homes are always a favorite! I grew up in one so they have a special place in my heart. Great photos!
That’s so awesome you grew up in a Victorian home. When I was young, my grandmother lived on the top floor of a Victorian home. What I remember most is that there was a huge wraparound room that was our toy room. So that’s probably another reason why Victorian homes have a special place in my heart also.
Thanks for the article. Our house, the Kellogg house was built in 1889, not 1899.
My pleasure! Thank you for letting me know (I’ve updated the post). You have a beautiful home in the prettiest neighborhood in the Twin Cities.
Never did I know that there were all these Victorian style homes were in Minnesota! They are so beautiful, I love the property. Thanks for taking us on a little drive in your video.
I knew Summit Ave and the nearby neighborhoods had a lot of Victorian homes, but had no idea that they had that many and that it’s the most in the entire U.S. That’s pretty special. I’m so glad you liked the driveby video. That was just one section of Summit Ave. I’ll need to take a video of the other end closer to the Governor’s Residence.
These homes are all so beautiful and different. Historic homes are so intriguing to me.
Summit Ave is such a pretty street – definitely no cookie cutter houses here! Love this historical neighborhood.
It’s a really gorgeous street. All the houses have so much individual character, and plenty of history. Of course the Chauncy Griggs Mansion is the one that interests me most. 6 ghosts- excellent.
I’m not surprised! I started reading up on the ghosts but stopped as it was freaking me out too much. I do love all the different personalities of these homes.
I love this style of home. These homes are incredible, I would love to go on this tour.
I love the Queen Victorian homes especially. I think you would love this tour of Summit Ave.
These buildings are so beautiful, I love the Victorian architecture. Chauncey Griggs Mansion sure looks haunted. Not sure if this is down to your amazing photography though 🙂
I could imagine living there but not sure I have the $1.53 million spare.
You’re too kind! I think the B/W filter on the Chauncey Griggs Mansion did give it a bit of a more sinister look. I don’t have that kind of spare change either. One of the mansions was transformed into a boutique hotel (and kept its historical spirit) so would love to stay there some time.
Wow I had no idea St. Paul had such a gorgeous architectural history! And Victorian houses at that. I think the F. Scott Fitzgerald houses piqued my interest because I’m such a huge fan!! Would love to visit the twin cities 🙂
I hope you get to visit the Twin Cities one day. Summit Ave is one of my favorite places with all its history and beauty. It was cool to take the F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour and walk in his footsteps.
What a fun tour of the prettiest street in Minnesota! Older neighborhoods like this are so appealing because the houses are so different from each other. This street reminds me of the neighborhoods in northwest DC where I used to live. I used to love walking around them and gawking at houses I could never afford!
DC definitely has some beautiful historic homes! I love walking around the Summit Ave neighborhood.
Wow! These homes are so beautiful and full of history and character. I would absolutely love to stroll down this street and explore the beauty and historical treasures of these houses.
I keep learning new things so every time I walk around Summit Ave it’s a new experience.
I LOVE historic homes and beautiful neighborhoods. You’re making me want to visit. I really hope I get to someday. I love all the info you give about each home and the pics are fantastic!
Thank you so much! I love historical homes also so am happy to share with like-minded individuals. I hope you can visit!
Looks like Summit Ave is the place to be!
Summit Ave is definitely the place to be for hits history and beauty.
I used to drive by these houses when I was in college and had no idea the history behind them. They were always just the street with the huge houses. So cool to read this post about what I took for granted. Excited to go back with new eyes!
So happy to hear you’re going to check Summit Ave out again with new eyes. I’m really enjoying my Minnesota staycation as I’m learning so many cool things right here in our own backyard.
Those are some gorgeous homes. I love that you gave the history. The leaves are awesome…makes you want to run through them.
Thank you! It was such a perfect autumn day when we took these latest photos on Summit Ave. On other tours, it was one of the hottest days of the summer and even one rainy day. Summit Ave is still the prettiest street in the Twin Cities regardless of the weather and season.
What a beautiful street and gorgeous historic homes! I would love to take a tour down Summit!
Thank you! If you’re ever in the neighborhood, let me know and would love to give you a tour of the prettiest street in the Twin Cities – Summit Ave.
What a great find! This would be such a lovely walk! Especially with the beautiful fall colors!
Thank you so much! Fall is especially a beautiful time to stroll through the historic Summit Ave – the prettiest street in the Twin Cities (maybe even Minnesota).
I had no idea there were so many historic homes like this in Minnesota. I love historic homes, have done a tour of them in Nola and Rhode Island. These are great though and impressive. Great street to create a ghost tour.
I’m sure these historic Summit Ave homes have a ghost story or two to share.
Omg, these houses are absolutely gorgeous!
I agree! These historic homes definitely make Summit Ave the prettiest street in the Twin Cities – maybe even all of Minnesota.
I absolutely love historic mansions! I wish I could tour the interior of all of them as well. Thanks for the beautiful photos!
My pleasure! I wish I could tour the interior of all these historic Summit Ave homes also.
These houses are so cool! I’d love to check them out. I’d really love to see the one where F. Scott Fitzgerald was born. I love history and literature!
I love history and literature also! Loved taking the F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour…learned so much about him and Zelda and his St. Paul native roots.
Karen, do you know if you run by these homes during the Twin Cities Marathon? I would run it just for that. These are gorgeous!
It does appear that the Twin Cities Marathon does run by the historic homes on Summit Ave. – at least from the past couple of years. Of course, 2020 was different and it was virtual. That’d be awesome if you ran it…I’ll make a sign and cheer you on!
Beautiful architecture. I love the Victorian style.
I love the Victorian homes also – and so cool that Summit Ave in St. Paul has the most Victorian homes in America.
I visited several years ago but didn’t see such gorgeous homes! As a fan of the paranormal, you had me with the Chauncey Griggs Mansion! Thank you for this article. Love it!!!
Yes, you would definitely love the Chauncey Griggs Mansion! And thank you!
Wow Karen! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this gorgeous street! I love the look of each of them and so glad the city decided to protect them so all could enjoy for years. Very cool that residents don’t mind photos being taken too. I definitely want to stay at the Davidson Hotel one day!
Summit Ave is a pretty special place for history and beauty…and am so grateful everyone is so inclusive to share this lovely neighborhood – one of my favorite places and things to do in Minnesota.
What a cool street! All those houses are huge, so I can see it would be fun to wander along and see them all. I love the idea of the 10 history walking tours.
Still, it must be so strange for the people that live there to have people taking pictures of their homes!!
Thank you so much. It was such a fun and educational series of walking tours along Summit Ave and the Twin Cities.
I never thought of Minnesota as a place to visit, but your photos are gorgeous, so it’s definitely on my bucket list now when I’m brave enough to fly again.
We’re not flying yet either so am enjoying our staycation here in Minnesota. Discovering and rediscovering so many hidden gems throughout the state and the Twin Cities with lots of fun and educational things to do.
Wow! All of these homes are so beautiful. I would love to visit this area. I still haven’t been to Minnesota yet. 🙂
Minnesota is rich in history and beauty – natural and architecture. Hope you get the opportunity as there are lots of fun things to do in Minnesota and the Twin Cities.
All of these houses look so lovely! I would love to visit some day!
Touring Summit Ave is one of my favorite things to do in the Twin Cities.
What an impressive area. It reminds us of a town in the Finger Lakes of New York called Skaneateles – same era of architecture and wealth. We’ll jump over to youtube to subscribe now too!
Thank you so much! I used to live in New York, but we never made it to the Finger Lakes region – I’ve heard it’s beautiful.
I would enjoy the Self-guided Summit.
Summit Ave is a great walking tour – guided or self-guided.
Historical reference like these are so intriguing! I loved this! Thank you!
Thank you so much! Love learning about our local history in Minnesota and these walking tours along the iconic Summit Ave neighborhoods were fascinating.
What a pretty street indeed in St Paul! And the city itself looks gorgeous as well. I’d love to drive or walk down Summit Avenue! Those houses are amazing.
Thank you! Summit Ave is such a pretty street and one of my favorite things to see in the Twin Cities – so much history and beauty.
I agree with your husband. I kinda dig the David Stuart house for some reason. What a collection of houses!
Yes, the David Stuart house is pretty special. Love all the historic homes on Summit Ave.
Gorgeous Victorian houses and what a rich history. Thanks for sharing
My pleasure…so happy other are enjoying one of my favorite neighborhoods in the Twin Cities!
Wow! What a beautiful parade of Mansions. We have a neighborhood simulate to that in Louisville, but perhaps not quite as many homes. While I love looking at them from the outside, I always think they would be a bit creepy to live in or grow up in. I really liked the yellow one that belonged to a Nobel prize winner.
Thank you! I’m sure Louisville has some beautiful neighborhoods like this as well. That yellow one is a bit different from the others – although all of them are pretty unique.
This is my kind of street! I love how historic all these homes and they are so pretty to look at as well.
Thank you! You would love to wander the historic Summit Ave – it really is the prettiest street in the Twin Cities.
Wow, this IS the prettiest street in the Twin Cities! All those gorgeous Victorian homes in one place… what a great place to walk.
Summit Ave in St. Paul is indeed the prettiest street in the Twin Cities. I love wandering and admiring the historic homes in any season.
We really do need to plan to visit the Twin Cities. I love the detail in Victorian homes and would spend hours wandering the streets in an area known for the most Victorian homes in America. The variety in the design is fascinating. And cool to find so many big houses have been restored. It would be hard to pick my favourite.
I hope you get the opportunity to visit the Twin Cities. I especially love the beautiful historic homes on Summit Ave in St. Paul, Minn. it’s difficult for me yo pick my favorite Victorian home.
I need to take a walk down this part of Summit Ave! I’m usually on a different part of Summit and I can see I’m really missing out. Love love these historic homes, and your fabulous photos.
Thank you so much! I’m always mesmerized by the history and beauty of the Summit Ave homes. And the avenue of gorgeous homes stretches for five miles so lots to see and admire!
Wow, Summit Avenue is definitely a stunner! I live in a historic neighborhood in Baltimore & love walking around admiring all the lovely homes. Love the reminder to be respectful of people’s homes! I love to photograph beautiful homes, but also feel a little weird doing so 😅
Same! I love wandering down historic streets like Summit Ave in St. Paul. I would love to see the beautiful historic homes in Baltimore.
A historical walking tour is a great way to see the streets and houses. And learn more about the history too. Your post can help to create a good self-guided tour along Summit Ave. and move at your own pace. I might be tempted to wait for an open house for the lovely old house that was for sale on Summit Ave.!
That’s a great idea to go to an open house on Summit Ave. All these homes are so beautiful to view in a walking tour in St. Paul, MN.