2018 HOLIDAY MANSIONS PART TWO

This year my friend Todd and I visited the Alexander Ramsey House to see it decorated for the Holidays. The mansion and its residents play a large part in the history of the Twin Cities.

 Ramsey, a well connected politician on the national level, began his affiliation with Minnesota in 1849 when he became the first Territorial Governor of Minnesota. He would soon after be elected Mayor of St. Paul, MN and eventually go on to become the second Governor of the State of Minnesota. In 1863 Ramsey resigned the governorship to become a U.S. Senator.

The Carriage house now houses the gift shop.

The Ramsey House was built in 1868, and is a wonderful example Second Empire architecture. The home stayed in the family, and in 1964 Ramsey’s granddaughter left the house and its original contents to the Minnesota Historical Society which operates it as a museum. The Victorian Christmas tour is a favorite each year, giving a glimpse into Christmas celebrations in the late 1800’s.

The Ramsey family tree.

While no indoor photos are allowed, these outdoor photos show off the beauty of this important, historical home.