You see it right before you, towering over the city, a twenty-story monument to Art Deco architecture. It’s Saint Paul City Hall, and its grand, smooth Indiana limestone exterior makes it a real eye-catcher.
The Saint Paul City Hall and the Ramsey County Courthouse, as it’s officially called, was completed in 1932. The building is a bit of a time capsule reflecting the turbulent times of the Great Depression. During that period with its high unemployment and deflated prices, it turned out that the construction budget of four million dollars was underspent. This meant the architects had more to spend on higher quality materials and craftsmanship. That’s why the Hall stands today as a masterpiece, a testament to how great designs and quality can emerge, even in difficult times. It’s said the design team, Thomas Ellerbe & Company of Saint Paul and Holabird & Root of Chicago, were inspired by the work of Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen.
The Hall reflects this connection in its design and boasts three distinct styles. Art Deco dominates the exterior, with smooth limestone and black spandrels giving it that classic modern touch. Stepping inside, things get more playful with the “Zigzag Moderne” style. This style comes from the influential Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, and the Hall features a white marble floor and stark black marble piers. And here, the Hall’s crown jewel sits: the 60-ton, 38-foot white onyx sculpture, the Vision of Peace. It’s a sight you can’t miss, a breathtakingly beautiful symbol of peace at the end of the hall.
The Hall’s interior has plenty of details to impress you. The woodwork alone includes wood from 23 different species carefully sourced from 18 countries. And that’s not all: five types of imported marble add to the sumptuous feel. Murals painted by John W. Norton and six bronze elevator doors created by Albert Stewart are further evidence of the high level of craftsmanship. If you step inside, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s, a time of elegance and art. It’s definitely something to appreciate.