Discover the Largest House in Minnesota And Just How Big 44,552 Square Feet Really Is 

As the capital of Minnesota, St. Paul offers many interesting landmarks, museums, and historic buildings to visit. From the Cathedral of Saint Paul to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, there are many prominent places to visit, including the largest house in the state. Find out how big the largest house in Minnesota is and its unique history.

How Big Is the Largest House in Minnesota?

The James J. Hill House is the largest house in Minnesota. This home has 36,500 square feet of living area spread throughout five floors. In total, the James J. Hill House spans 44,552 square feet. Upon completing the mansion in 1891, it was the biggest and most expensive residence in the entire state.

Some features include:

• 13 bathrooms
• 22 fireplaces
• 16 cut-glass chandeliers
• An extensive art gallery that is two stories tall
• An 88-foot reception hall
• A three-story pipe organ

The original owner of the house, railroad tycoon James J. Hill, had the first floor decorated with gorgeous, hand-carved woodwork. The intricate oak and mahogany woodwork expands through the central hallway, dining room, and music room. The second floor mostly contained the bedrooms of all the family members and had less ornate wood trim.

The first floor has an art gallery that displays Hill’s collection of paintings and sculptures. Also, there is a sizable library, drawing room, and home office.

There is a huge grand staircase to the second floor, which has James and Mary Hill’s rooms, two guest bedrooms, and bedrooms for their seven daughters (one of whom died in infancy). James and Mary Hill’s three sons had their own bedrooms on the third floor. Also, the fourth floor had a theatrical stage that could hold an audience of 200 people, a grand piano, and a small gymnasium that doubled as a playroom.

The basement is also quite sizable and has inlaid marble flooring. The basement featured a kitchen with a dumbwaiter (which brings food to the dining room above), laundry room, and boiler room. Also, the servant’s quarters, which housed a staff of 10-12 servants, was also located in the basement.

Where Is the James J. Hill House?

Located in downtown St. Paul, James J. Hill House may be found at 240 Summit Avenue. The house is just one block west of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, near the eastern end of Summit Avenue.

The History of the James J. Hill House

James J. Hill was known as “The Empire Builder,” which was fitting as the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway. In 1901, Hill, J.P. Morgan, and E.H. Harriman became partners of the Northern Securities Company, which controlled the Great Northern, the Northern Pacific, and the Burlington lines.

In 1882, Hill purchased three lots of land on Summit Avenue. Because of Summit Avenue’s proximity and view of the Mississippi River, this was a popular neighborhood to build wealthy houses. The Boston firm of Peabody, Stearns, and Furber designed the home, being well-known for their exquisite mansions constructed in Newport, RI.

The final cost of the James J. Hill House, including the furnishings and landscaping, was $931,275.01. It was the residence of the Hill family even after Hill died in 1916. When “The Empire Builder” died, he left behind a fortune of $63 million! His wife, Mary, maintained the mansion until she died in 1921. In 1925, family members bought the James J. Hill House from the estate and gave it to the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul, who used the mansion as a school and residence of the church.

In 1978, the Minnesota Historical Society obtained the James J. Hill House, which became a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

Visiting the Largest House in Minnesota

From January 1 to November 22, guided tours of the James J. Hill House are available on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The tours go for 60 minutes, and prices range from free for children under four years old to $12 for adults.

Renting the Largest House in Minnesota

James J. Hill House may be rented for large events such as lectures, concerts, or formal dinners. However, this historic house is not available for events such as weddings, birthdays, or family reunions.

Rooms that may be reserved include:

• The music room
• The drawing room
• The first-floor hallway
• Meeting rooms on the second and third floors
• The picture gallery
• The outside terraces

To reserve the James J. Hill House for your next small event, visit the James J. Hill House rental webpage.