Minnesota State Capitol

I was really impressed by the Minnesota State Capitol — it's absolutely stunning inside and out! The marble dome is breathtaking. If you are here on a weekday- the interior is full of beautiful art, historic murals, and grand staircases. Do take a free guided tour, you might go up to the roof for an amazing view of the city. The building feels both historic and alive with politics. If you're in St. Paul, take an hour or two to visit. It's peaceful and photogenic!

Did a free tour of the capitol while on vacation with my family. The history of the building is fascinating and our guide was very knowledgeable. The architecture is grandiose and stunning, and the views of downtown St. Paul from the rooftop are amazing. Definitely an hour well spent.

A very grand state capital with many floors of beautiful art and architecture. The dome is fantastic. If you take the tour you go up on the dome where the gold chariot is and have a view of St. Paul. The paintings in the Governors office are amazing. Free tour.

Wonderful free tours every hour! This building is a masterpiece and the free tour really helped me appreciate it! The roof access was especially impressive!

We visit a lot of state capitols and this one is beautiful! Allow time to visit all the areas and do some reading, lots of Minnesota history. Make sure you visit the Cathedral of St Paul as well, the interior is amazing!

Stately, august, friendly, welcoming. Business and history mixed as the state House was in session during my visit and lots of tours were taking place (tour guide encouraging schoolchildren to now be a part of history by telling others what they learned). Sergeant at arms guarding the House chamber was kind, polite but firm in telling me what I could/couldn’t do as I approached the open chamber doors. The building was nicely renovated and has great touches to years past, including a museum exhibit on the 3rd floor telling the story of natives, and maintaining things like the interior swinging bathroom doors. I know more about the state than before. What a great welcome to Minnesota!

Make sure and take a free guided tour of this historic Capitol building. One of the nicest in the Midwest!

Drove by and took pictures of the amazing architecture. Strongly resembles the U.S. Capitol Building. Very beautiful.

Beautiful state capitol - highly recommend visit. Built in 1905 with recent $310M renovation. Here's a few highlights: the quadriga a chariot pulled by four horses sculpture. The rotunda floor large marble star representing the North Star State on the first floor. Civil war paintings. Senate and House chambers. Rathskeller basement. Public spaces and exhibits on the third floor. Tours are offered for free weekdays and Saturdays - visit online to confirm hours. There's a visitors parking lot located within two blocks.

It's definitely one of the more elaborate and ornate capitals in the country complete with gold painted ceilings. I do wonder if that is the best use of my tax dollars. It's open to the public free of charge with the exception of a couple of rooms. I happened to arrive on a day where the House Clerk was giving tours which was fun. The Clerk was friendly and welcoming.

While many state capitols have this basic exterior shape, it's what's on the inside that usually differentiates the top half from the bottom half of state Capitol buildings. There is an impressive collection of busts, painted murals and even a domed ceiling that really seals the deal.

Such a beautiful capitol! We took a guided tour ($5 donation) and learned so much. You can also wander through in your own. Parking was easy too.

I sent them a bunch of mail recently. I called them The Capitol Letters. A truly spectacular Capitol Building towering over St Paul Minnesota and one of my favourites actually. Looks great from any angle (like my d***) and kind of looks brand-new in some ways. Has some gold around the white, which gives it a little distinctive flavour from some of the others. After all, the famous son Prince had an album and song called Gold. And all that glitters is definitely not Gary.

Beautiful historic capital with rally's and events daily. Lots going on in every corner, democracy at it's finest. Art and hand sculpted stone and wood at every corner and history everywhere you look. Go for a day, meet your legislators or take a tour it's not to miss!

While watching a Facebook live stream on a wintery night the beauty of the State Capital shines through. Missing my home state even more.

While visiting St. Paul last month, my husband and I visited the state capitol on a Thursday. We arrived around 12:40 pm and waited for the 1 pm tour (tours begin right in front of the guest services). If you come early for your tour, consider walking around and taking a few photos in the rotunda. Tours are available every hour (until 2 pm Monday- Saturday and until 3 pm on Sundays) and last about 45 minutes. I would highly encourage checking out one of the free tours (although donations are graciously accepted) because not only do you get to learn some brief history of the capitol, but you also get the opportunity to see The Quadriga (the chariot with the 4 horses on top of the capitol that is covered in gold). It is only on a tour that you would be able to see it. During our tour, I want to highlight a few interesting things in this review. In the Governor's Reception Room, there are 2 paintings that are missing and placed in another place in the capitol (upstairs on the 3rd floor in room 321). These paintings have been removed due to the controversy that they are causing. One of the paintings (Father Hennepin Discovering The Falls Of St Anthony) is of a priest with a group of Native Americans. There is a woman who is wearing a garment only covering the lower half of her body, exposing her breast. The other painting (Treaty of Traverse des Sioux) is of a treaty signing that is supposed to signify harmony and unity. However many Native Americans view this as promoting the theft of their ancestral land. Also in this room is a special painting (The Battle Of Nashville by Howard Pyle) in which it is the one and only painting showing a shredded American flag during battle time. This particular painter tried to replicate the exact battle field through photos and interviews of actual soldiers on that day. Many people were upset to see the American flag shredded instead of a full size flag, waving in all of its glory. But the painter had argued that he painted the flag like that to honor the 300 soldiers that fought on that battle field that day, as that was how the flag was described to look like and did not want to dishonor those brave men (as that was one of the deadliest day for the Minnesota soldiers fighting in the Civil War). On this tour, we were led to the senate and house chambers (or supreme court), from the 2nd floor. From here, this is where the public is actually invited to come for meetings (when they occur). The artwork is just gorgeous, especially with all of the gold coloring. At the end of tour, we were taken up to the top, at the bottom of the state capitol dome outside to get a closer view of The Quadriga. The 4 horses are supposed to represent the 4 elements of nature of earth, wind, fire and water. The 2 female figures are supposed to be the ones to control the forces of nature. One is supposed to be agriculture and the other is supposed to be industry. Together, the 2 ladies represent civilization. The charioteer is supposed to be prosperity. The pineapple on the hub of the chariot wheels are supposed to be represent hospitality. Being that the chariot is facing forward, it is supposed to depict the future progress of Minnesota, thus this sculpture is called "Progress of the State". History is pretty cool isn't it? There are other interesting facts shared on this tour and wished there were more, but 45 minutes just barely scratches the surface. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour but do want to mention that part of the tour does require a good amount of walking. But there are elevators in case you have trouble walking flights of stairs. However, there is no elevator available to view the golden Quadriaga sculpture. After our tour, we headed down to the basement because our tour guide suggested checking out the vaulted ceilings and original limestone on the walls. There is a dining hall in the basement, however it was closed during our visit. Overall, I really enjoyed our visit, especially the history of Minnesota and what was unique specifically to the capitol.

Beautiful building inside and out with plenty of stuff to see !!!! Walk the grounds weather permitting.

One of the coolest capitol buildings in our nation. The art is breathtaking and you'll probably catch yourself staring at pieces, simply because you're in awe someone painted it all by hand. They've also completely renovated the tunnel system that connects the capitol to the senate and other buildings. I thought it was neat they chose photos of the construction workers during the building process as their art for the tunnels.

Paul the tour guide for President! On a recent trip to Minnesota, I took myself to the state capitol building while my friends went to work. The website was very informative on telling me the best places to park my car! It was pouring down rain so I sprinted sprinted fast from Parking Lot Q. Expectedly, I came in like a wet dog panting so I went to a nice easy to find bathroom to get myself ready for my tour. Paul the tour guide was so informative and shared the rich history of the capitol building with enthusiasm. He took us into the MN Supreme Court and discussed the origins of the phrase "passing the bar." He gave us the meaning of each painting on the wall. Then, we popped up to the State House where he had more fun facts! And just when you think it couldn't get any better, we headed to the State Senate! At each location, Paul talked us through history and the everyday-ness of the people who serve the state of Minnesota. We also had a lovely conversation about why me, a history teacher from Las Vegas, stumbled into his tour group in the first place. We connected on the best places to go hiking! Lastly, my favorite part was a room with two paintings of rather offensive interpretations of Native people of Minnesota. The paintings were removed and placed in this room for deeper consideration, and the viewer is able to read the history of the paintings and is provided with a variety of perspectives on them. This room really is doing the business of studying history and the conversation it provokes is vital for us to be the best lil people we can be. Overall, I had the most extraordinary afternoon in the Minnesota State Capitol. I told all my friends to visit but loved it so much I would even send my enemies. The end!

One of the prettiest capitol buildings I have been to (and I'm on a mission to see them all). Not only in the exterior in increible condition with a majestic golden statue, but the interior is unbelieveable. Marble columns and staircases. Exquisite paintings on ceilings. Colorful rotunda. I sound pretentious but this place was so cool to walk through. They even offer tours.

Beautiful state capitol. I took advantage of the tour and learned a bit more of its history, very fascinating and breathtaking.

When visiting Minneapolis-St. Paul, taking a tour of the Minnesota State Capitol Building is a wonderful way to spend some time! Well-informed docent-led tour, among absolutely gorgeous architecture and artwork. The lightrail takes you almost to the front steps of the Capitol for your visit -- couldn't be easier! A great way to spend an hour!

A brief stop here for a selfie and a check-in which gives me my 17th State Capitol as I work to collect all fifty of them. Very cold today and lots of ice around, no time to really stick around for the tour.

Walk in, look up and stare in aww over the stunning architectural elegance that is the grand dome interiors. Not to be outdone, the view of the city from the top of the steps is gorgeous as well. In other words, don't miss the Minnesota State Capital.

Highly recommend. The capital is absolutely beautiful inside. The restoration project completed in 2016-17 looks like it was done yesterday. Our tour guide, Katie, was excellent and gave us an interesting and informative overview. She was very inclusive of the different tour group members and pulled off a lengthy hour-long tour flawlessly. The gentlemen in the visitor's office on the main floor were very friendly and helped us out with good tips on local St. Paul restaurants. Well worth a visit!

There isn't enough history shared in the 45 minute guided tour because this building is so humongous! There are several paintings and sculptures which I feel require so much time to be admired and adored. They offer a free 45 min guided tour until Feb 29 from 10am-2pm. The schedule changes after but you can go in and walk around on your own at anytime the building is opened. I learned when the building was built, how long it took to finish, the latest in restoration, the cost at the time of building it, and how much more for restoration. I want to share how much natural light comes in the building. It was so beautiful and made me feel at ease. There are lots of small, intricate details to paintings and the marble floors that intrigue me. I don't think can say enough about my visit. I look forward to coming back to their grand opening which will be August 11-13, according to our tour guide.

I was in town putting together a veterans book for a local business to I spent much of my time visiting veterans memorials through out Minneapolis and St. Paul. And the Capitol Mall did not disappoint. There was a treasure trove of memorials and it's a well-kept greenspace and while I thought parking or getting around would be super complicated, it actually wasn't. I visited late in the afternoon so I didn't visit the actual capitol building but if you're in need of a leisurely, peaceful walk, this seems to be a nice place. And I felt safe for the most part. There was one time a man, who appeared to be homeless, kind of followed me around a little and then tried to get into a portapotty that was fenced off where they are doing construction. It was odd, but I kept near to the busy street. There are a lot of beautiful monuments here and would be a great stop for any veteran or service employees (police/firemen). Here are descriptions for a few of them: 1. Korean War Veterans Memorial, located within the Capitol Mall, features a soldier searching for his lost unit and comrades and is intended to represent the missing in action from the Korean War. Engraved accompanying paving stones provide a chronological account of the war and small columns list the names of the 700 Minnesotans who died during the war. 2. The Minnesota World War II Memorial, located within the Capitol Mall. A granite decline leading to the lowest point of the memorial and rising toward the Capitol, represents the passage of our nation through the Second World War - symbolic of a hill rising from the depths of military struggle to eventual victory. Surrounding the rectangular slope is a series of ten vertical panels or windows anchored in granite foundations. Reflecting from these etched panes of glass are symbolic images and narratives revealing the Minnesota Veterans journey through the war. 3. The Minnesota Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located within the Capitol Mall, honors the 68,000 Minnesotans who served in the war -- and the 1,120 who were killed or missing in action. There are 68,000 granite tiles in the plaza; the green ones represent the dead and missing -- whose names are carved into a wall of honor topped by a line from Archibald MacLeish's 1948 poem "The young dead soldiers do not speak." 4. One of the coolest finds on the property is this huge naval gun on display on the west side of the Veterans Service Building in St. Paul, was manned by St. Paul reservists aboard the U.S.S. Ward. A Japanese Midget Submarine was fired upon and subsequently sank using this gun. It was the first shot by Americans at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1931.

We were in the area for India Fest and my husband told me the state had spent a bunch of money renovating the state capital recently (I don't watch the news) so maybe we should take a tour of the capital see what they've done. So we took our 10-year-old and 13-year-old on a little self tour. It really is a gorgeous building, marble everywhere, nice wood banisters, lots of murals from state scenes and history. We got to take a look at the Supreme Court courtroom, (and a picture of Minnesota Supreme Court justices of which the women out number the men!) Beautiful wood and murals even in there. If you're in the area, definitely take a peek.

I visited the state Capitol by myself today while I had some time to kill. Everyone that I interacted with was tremendously helpful. I spent about half an hour speaking with a man who gave me incredibly detailed about the architecture and history of the Capitol building. I actually cried. It was so good. Anywho, I really recommend taking a tour of the building. It's basically free range and you are able to walk around wherever and speak to whoever you'd like.

What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon on a day off. Such an impressive, gorgeous building and grounds. We are free to walk through it on our own or take a guided tour with a docent. The tours are hourly, and the docent tour makes the experience very interesting and educational. I learned so much on the tour. I guess my only complaint is that I wish it was longer..,I wanna hear more.... as you can tell I really enjoyed it, since I love architectural,art and history...if you do, too you wouldn't want to miss this. If you are a photographer (or a wannabe amateur like I am) you can get awesome shots of the cathedral and the city of St Paul, too from the capitol. This is definately worth seeing. Oh, and don't miss Gov. Ventura's portrait on the lower level :)

Minnesota State Capitol building is a stunning building. It is a beautifully designed monument. The senators, state representatives, attorney general and the governor of the state must be so lucky to work in such a majestic office. I found out that the unsupported marble dome is second largest in the world after Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The designer of the Capitol, Cass Gilbert, modeled it after the Basilica in Rome. The marble dome is a perfect homage to Michelangelo. The quadriga - chariot pulled by four horses representing earth, air, fire and water, is a sculpture that sits above the portico is worth seeing up close. The meaning behind the design of the sculpture is beautiful. One can get a magnificent view of the cathedral and downtown St. Paul from this building. The Capitol offers guided (45 minute) tours and self-guided tours as well. It is a must visit for tourists and locals.

We had house guests from Wisconsin recently and took them to see the renovated Minnesota State Capitol. It was the highlight of our sightseeing. The Capitol was designed by Cass Gilbert and was completed in 1905. It was recently renovated to the tune of $310 million and is spectacular. The Minnesota Historical Society provides free tours (they request a $ 5 donation per person but it isn't mandatory although the tour is well worth it). Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the building, State Government and Minnesota history. The building itself is absolutely amazing. The dome is the second largest self supported marble dome in the world (the largest is Saint Peter's in Rome). The tour ends on the roof and there is a great view in all directions. We were there on a Monday when the Legislature was in session but easily found on street parking nearby. I had visited the Capitol years ago and the restoration has done wonders. I grew up near the Texas Capitol in Austin which is I believe the largest state capitol but the Minnesota Capitol loses nothing in comparison. Definitely worth it.

Now I don't typically like what happens on the inside-a few wonderfully strategic and honest elected officials tryung to keep the greedy sharks at bay-but the architecture is wonderful! supposedly, the white stone originated in Georgia and just about emptied a quarry. The gold is laid every few years and you can go all the way to the top so long as you keep your hands to yourself! Take a walk up the hill to the cathedral or head the other direction for a stroll through rice park. Then, stop for lunch at Sakura. It will be a delicious afternoon.

Lots of history in the state of Minnesota! Great place to visit especially for tourists! Less busy during weekends and after rush hour ends during the workweek!

This Capitol building was absolutely breathtaking! It's easy on and off of the light rail! The historical society runs the tour and are super friendly and knowledgeable about the entire building! If you want a more personalized tour I would definitely recommend calling the local state reps who are happy to set that up for you. This is an absolute must see!

Landmark Review: After seeing Wisconsin's state capitol, I thought this would be another spectacular experience but alas no. This capital is busier with more traffic and a large part was under construction. Also we got in too late and it was closed already. I am sure if I could go in this would be a cool experience. I would pass until the construction is done. Hidden deals: FREE

The state capital building was beautiful and open for tourists or visitors to see. With a huge open lawn/quad area in front, you have tons of monuments, exhibits, and memorials to see.

The renovated capitol is so worth the time to visit. Our family of five took the free 45-minute tour and it was enjoyed by all of us - adults and teenagers. The history and artwork depicted throughout the capitol building is very impressive. We really loved the Civil War paintings in the Governor's reception room and the paintings in the Supreme Court chambers. Recommend to start with a tour and then take a self-guided tour to enjoy the paintings, history and sculptures on all floors at your own pace.

I toured the Minnesota State Capitol in 2001, when Jesse Ventura was governor of the great State of Minnesota. This capitol is definitely on my list of of nation's finest capitols. It's a nice building, of course, like most capitols, but this particular capitol oozes class. It's a swanky building but it's not over the top. Many State Capitols try to hit you over the head with bling. Minnesota's conveys cool, classy reserve. The rotunda and main rooms are decorated with, warm, dark colors, deep blues and reds, mohogany and cherry. It's very well maintained and beatifully restored. What keeps me from giving Minnesota's Capitol the full 5 five stars is the paucity of its setting. It just sits there, not surrounded by a park or grand colonade but by a freeway on one side and roads and parking lots on the others. Its setting is removed from downtown St. Paul, shuffled off to the side, not really integrated into the city.

I love the Capitol Building! I came here last week for their spirits and whatnot tour and they did a very nice job. The architecture was pretty schmancy and it didn't feel stuffy like the statehouse in beantown. I'm going to tour it again in daylight, seems like a nifty gift of history.

My friend and I went to tour the Capitol on a Monday. We got the at 4:30 and it closed at 5 so that's good to note. They gave us a Mpls/SP magazine and a Capitol brochure and let us explore. It was beautiful! We got to look in the Senate and House chambers as well as the Supreme Court. It's such a beautiful building.

I'm a big fan of state capitols and visit them whenever I can. This one is very big and features really nice paintings of all the governors which is fun. You see some names you recognize from all the big food companies in the area. I really had to search and ask where the most famous one, Jessie Ventura was (way down in the basement). It was a very interesting action figure type pose which was amusing. The inside of the capitol had some pretty details but most of it was painted in a Norwegian stencil feeling design. It was unique but unexpected for a government building. The inside didn't seem to go along with the outside of the building but I'm no archechict expert. I think I prefer the more over the top government excess spending type of capitol buildings and this ones a little more simple.

The building is in a good location, with relatively easy street parking nearby. The tour I went on during memorial day weekend was the worst of all 10 or so capitol tours I've experienced. A moody, middle aged lady was leading it, with no announcements as to the start, direction or plan. Apparently the group was split into to, with a younger, impossible to hear employee leading the other group. Waste of time if you're hoping for a quality tour that many other states would make you expect.

My son and I took a tour here recently, and I found the tour to be delightful. I was overwelmed by how much history lies in this building. The tour guide seemed to know a ton about the place and its history. We learned a lot from her. I've lived in five states in my lifetime, and I've toured all of those state capitols. None of them were as beautiful and delightful as Minnesota's. I would love to bring my son here again sometime and keep learning more about the building and its history.

Good looking state Capitol. Easy in and out. Lots of places to eat around the area.

Awesome building sadly I came during remodel but plan to go back when done its for sure worth the time for a stop