Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District
Summit Avenue, grande dame of Victorian boulevards, is lined with magnificent turn-of- the-century mansions built by railroad magnates, lumber barons, and captains of industry. Richly illustrated, this book is a celebration of these homes on St. Paul’s best-known and most beloved avenue, opening the doors to more than two dozen legendary homes situated on America’s best-preserved avenue from the era.
It takes great writers and great photographers to make great houses come alive, and this book has all three, with wonderful vignettes by some of the Twin Cities’ best architectural authors and gorgeous architectural photography by Karen Melvin. To see the best of what Minnesota has to offer, stroll through this book.
Thomas Fisher, Dean, College of Design, University of Minnesota
Summit Avenue, grande dame of Victorian boulevards, is lined with magnificent turn-of- the-century mansions built by railroad magnates, lumber barons, and captains of industry. Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District is a celebration of these homes on St. Paul’s best-known and most beloved avenue, opening the doors to more than two dozen legendary homes situated on America’s best-preserved avenue from the era.
Photographer Karen Melvin takes us along for a tour through stately mansions to view these remarkable architectural gems. Featuring the work of notable architects including Clarence Johnston, Cass Gilbert, and Allen Stem, readers experience the interiors first-hand, including the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Richly illustrated with hundreds of photos, this book offers an irresistible invitation to step through the doors of these showcase homes to explain what we are all curious to know. Discover how the homeowners have restored the original grandeur and rich heritage of their homes while infusing them with new life and energy.
Contributors: Bette Jones Hammel, Garrison Keillor, Dave Kenny, Paul Clifford Larson, and Melinda Nelson.
It takes great writers and great photographers to make great houses come alive, and this book has all three, with wonderful vignettes by some of the Twin Cities’ best architectural authors and gorgeous architectural photography by Karen Melvin. To see the best of what Minnesota has to offer, stroll through this book.
Thomas Fisher, Dean, College of Design, University of Minnesota
Crack the spine of Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District, and you’ll quickly realize that the turrets and spindles you’ve been admiring for years are surpassed by the grand, richly detailed living spaces inside. Karen Melvin’s photography and the writing of four accomplished authors beautifully tell the stories of these landmark residences—and of the people who built and preserved them.
Chris Hudson, Architecture Minnesota
This book captures the essence of Saint Paul’s Summit Avenue, the most notable Street of Victorian architecture in the country. Saint Paul is proud to honor the book with the Cultural Heritage Award from the Heritage Preservation Commission. Well done!
Chris Coleman, former Mayor of Saint Paul
