A lavishly illustrated record of the architectural—and preservation—wonders of the most elegant neighborhoods of St. Paul

Summit Avenue, grande dame of Victorian boulevards, is lined with magnificent turn-of- the-century mansions built by railroad magnates, lumber barons, and captains of industry. Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District is a celebration of these homes on St. Paul’s best-known and most beloved avenue, opening the doors to more than two dozen legendary homes situated on America’s best-preserved avenue from the era.

Photographer Karen Melvin takes us along for a tour through stately mansions to view these remarkable architectural gems. Featuring the work of notable architects including Clarence Johnston, Cass Gilbert, and Allen Stem, readers experience the interiors first-hand, including the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Richly illustrated with hundreds of photos, this book offers an irresistible invitation to step through the doors of these showcase homes to explain what we are all curious to know. Discover how the homeowners have restored the original grandeur and rich heritage of their homes while infusing them with new life and energy.

Contributors: Bette Jones Hammel, Garrison Keillor, Dave Kenny, Paul Clifford Larson, and Melinda Nelson.

Based in the Twin Cities, Karen Melvin photographs nationally for advertising clients, shelter magazines, architects, and interior designers. Melvin’s previous award-winning coffee-table books of architecture and historic homes are regional bestsellers and include Boathouses of Lake Minnetonka (Minnesota, 2022), Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka, and Legendary Homes of the Minneapolis Lakes.