36000 sq. ft., riv vu
Upon reaching St. Paul, we made our way to the James J. Hill House. Hill was a Scot/Irish immigrant from Canada who made a fortune in the railroad business. He married a waitress from the hotel downtown and they had 10 children. The house is in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This style, popularized by Henry Hobson Richardson, is a revival style incorporating 11th and 12th century French, Italian and Spanish Romanesque characteristics. It’s actually quite unattractive from the outside. Inside, there are many large rooms. We had a great tour and probably annoyed other people on the tour by our constant questions. After the tour, we rode down Summit Ave. with its many Victorian houses.