James J Hill was the railroad tycoon of the Great Northern Railway and a huge part of Minnesota’s history. He built an empire, became a major contributor to higher education (ie. seminaries, colleges and universities) and he was even mentioned in the Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald! So, of course his home would be mentioned on the #mnbucketlist! The James J Hill House is in St Paul across from the Basilica, you can’t miss it. It has an amazing view, incredible sprawling rooms, painstakingly created and excruciatingly detailed fireplaces and woodwork, an expansive library, and with a massive coal burning furnace and elevator – ahead of its time. Take a day and visit. Its currently owned by the Minnesota Historical Society and is open for tours, you might even catch a choir chorale!