The Saint Paul Hotel
350 Market Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102

Built in 1910, the handsome Italian Renaissance Revival building was constructed by local businessman Lucius P. Ordway. Recognizing the city’s need for a major hotel, he challenged the community to match his $1 million offer to finance construction. The New York firm of Reed and Stem—best known for their design of New York’s Grand Central terminal—were the architects behind the hotel’s grand facade and stylish interiors.

History of The Saint Paul Hotel
(courtesy of The Saint Paul Hotel website)

In 1856, John Summers invited travelers from all over the world into his home, which eventually became the Greenman House, a 60-room hotel erected in 1871 and destroyed by fire in 1878. By 1878, Mr. Summers and John Baugh, an Eastern hotelier, constructed a much larger and more modern hotel named The Windsor, known at the time to be one of the finest hotels in Saint Paul. The Windsor Hotel was operated successfully until 1880 when Baugh withdrew and sold his interest to Charles J. Monfort. Summers resigned in 1891 and Monfort acted as President and Manager until his death in 1904.

For the next two years the hotel was utilized as an arcade and theater. As the city of Saint Paul continued to grow, the need for a new hotel became increasingly important. In 1908 Lucius P. Ordway, a prime mover in the new hotel project, secured ownership of the property with the intentions of constructing a new luxury hotel. “St. Paul’s Million-Dollar Hotel” was opened with much enthusiasm and ceremony on April 18, 1910. The hotel featured a grand ballroom, fine dining room, roof garden, and guestrooms with their own scenic view. In 1950, the hotel and the city began to suffer as highways started to push people and businesses to the suburbs. The hotel was in need of maintenance and repair, and its appeal began to diminish. In 1982, the Saint Paul business community realized the importance of the hotel once again. Piece by piece, the 254 room hotel was redesigned, restored and completed. Today, guests continue to experience the historic European charm and elegance reminiscent of the bygone golden era.

The Saint Paul has hosted Presidents and entertainment icons as well as royalty, heads of State, business moguls, wealthy aristocrats, musicians and movie stars... Since 1910 countless famous (and a few infamous) figures have chosen to stay at The Saint Paul Hotel.