Saint Paul

What lurks beneath Saint Paul’s glittering dome and bustling streets? Let me tell you a tale of gangsters, Lite-Brites, and a one-eyed fur trader. Saint Paul, Minnesota. Originally called Pig’s Eye after the one-eyed fur trader, Pierre Parrant. This colorful character set up a tavern and gave the settlement its first quirky nickname. But before Parrant, the Dakota people knew this place as “Imnizaska,” meaning “white rock bluffs.” Imagine, a time before skyscrapers, before streetcars, when these bluffs stood sentinel over a wild Mississippi. Saint Paul wasn’t always the stately capital we see today. It was a rough-and-tumble frontier town, a key trading post, and the last navigable port on the Upper Mississippi. This meant steamboats, throngs of people, and a whirlwind of activity. In 1857, there was almost a dramatic shift in Saint Paul’s destiny. The territorial legislature voted to move the capital to Saint Peter. But a cunning legislator named Joe Rolette had other plans. He literally stole the bill and vanished, ensuring Saint Paul remained the capital. Saint Paul boasts 26 miles of Mississippi Riverfront, more than any other city along this iconic waterway. Did you know that Rice Park, right here in downtown, is older than New York City’s Central Park? Now, picture this: the Minnesota State Capitol. Its magnificent marble dome, second in size only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, gleams in the sunlight. This architectural marvel, a symbol of Saint Paul’s grandeur, has witnessed history unfold beneath its watchful eye. From notorious gangsters like John Dillinger, who had a shootout with police and the FBI at the Lincoln Court Apartments, to literary giants like F. Scott Fitzgerald, who penned “This Side of Paradise” in his Summit Avenue home, Saint Paul has been a magnet for colorful characters. Speaking of colorful, Saint Paul is home to the world’s largest Lite-Brite piece. This vibrant installation at Union Depot is a testament to the city’s playful spirit. And let’s not forget the St. Paul Saints, the city’s beloved baseball team, whose part-owner and “team psychologist” is none other than the comedic legend, Bill Murray. From its humble beginnings as Pig’s Eye Landing to its current status as a vibrant cultural hub, Saint Paul’s story is a fascinating tapestry woven with threads of ingenuity, resilience, and a touch of the bizarre. So, next time you stroll through Saint Paul’s streets, remember the one-eyed fur trader, the stolen bill, and the Lite-Brite mural. They are all part of the rich, unpredictable story of this captivating city.