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Saint Paul, the smaller of the Twin Cities (the other being Minneapolis), is the capital city of the state of Minnesota.
In the 1840's, Saint Paul was a village settled by French-Canadians on the banks of the Mississippi River.
During that time the tiny village was known as 'Pig's Eye Landing',
but when Father Lucien Galtier arrived here in 1841 and built a chapel dedicated to Saint Paul,
he asked that the village's name be changed to Saint Paul.
In 1849, when Minnesota become a territory, Saint Paul became its territorial capital.
When Minnesota became a state in 1858, Saint Paul remained its capital.
In 1854, it was officially incorporated as a city.
In the years that followed Saint Paul was a booming river port and transportation center,
especially after the arrival of the railroad in 1862.
Today Saint Paul, still a centre for commerce, has about 280,000 inhabitants.



Above: skyline view of downtown Saint Paul from Harriet Island Regional Park.


Above: Wells Fargo Place (144m/471f, 36 stories, 1987).
The city's tallest since 1987, when it took over the title from Jackson Tower.


Above: Jackson Tower (135m/443f, 46 stories, 1986).
The tower is part of the Galtier Plaza complex, which also consists of Sibley Tower (96m/314f, 33, 1986).
The complex was named after Lucien Galtier, the person who gave the name to the city.
Jackson Tower was St. Paul's tallest building from 1986-1987.
Ever since its completion, Jackson Tower is the tallest residential building in the state of Minnesota.
It will be surpassed though by Minneapolis' The Carlyle (143m/471f, 39 stories)
when this building will be completed in 2006/2007.


Above: First National Bank Building (127m/417f, 32 stories, 1930).
Including the spire on top the building reaches a height of 158m.
It was the city's tallest building for 56 years; until 1986, when Jackson Tower took over.
Like most of the buildings in Saint Paul (and Minneapolis) this building has
skyways that connects them to adjacent buildings.
These skyways connect the buildings on the first few floor levels.
The First National Bank Building also has a skyway on the 15th floor,
which connects the building to the Merchant's Bank Building.


Above: Kellogg Square Apartments (112m/366f, 32 stories, 1972).


Above: The Pointe of Saint Paul (104m/340f, 33 stories, 1988).
Another residential building, and the tallest owner-occupied-condominium one in Saint Paul.


Above left and middle: US Bank Center (103m/338f, 25 stories, 1975).
Above right: St. Paul's Travelers Building (101m/330f, 17 stories, 1991).


Above: Bremer Tower (100m/328f, 27 stories, 1980).
Above right: Piper Jaffray Plaza (93m/305f, 25 stories, 1980).
Both buildings are part of the Town Square complex,
which also consists of the 16-floor Radisson City Center Hotel Saint Paul.


Above: The 400 Building (100m/327f, 21 stories, 1982).
The building is part of the Securian Center,
which also consists of The 401 Building (78m/256f, 13 stories, 2000).


Above: Landmark Towers (100m/327f, 25 stories, 1983).
The first 19 floors of this building are offices.
The upper levels are condominiums, with great views over the city
and the Mississippi River.


Above left: Sibley Tower (96m/314f, 33 stories, 1986),
another residential building.
Above middle left: Ecolab Corporate Center (93m/305f, 20 stories, 1968).
Above middle right: Radisson Riverfront Saint Paul (82m/268f, 23 stories, 1966).
The tallest hotel in Saint Paul.
Above right: City hall and County Courthouse (80m/261f, 21 stories, 1932).


Above left: view from across the Mississippi River, with
St. Paul's Travelers Building rising above the top of Landmark Center .
Above middle left: Cathedral of Saint Paul (93m/306f, 1915).
The city's tallest structure from 1915-1930.
It is the fourth-largest church in the United States.
Above middle right: Minnesota State Capitol (68m/232f, 4 stories, 1904).
The building took nine years to build and the building costs were US$4.5 million
Above right: Landmark Center (67m/221f, 6 stories, 1902).


Above left: skyline view from the south.
Above right: another - full - view of the Minnesota State Capitol.



Saint Paul's 10 tallest skyscrapers:
1. WELLS FARGO PLACE 144m/471f, 36 stories, 1987
2. JACKSON TOWER 135m/443f, 46 stories, 1986
3. FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING 127m/417f, 32 stories, 1930
4. KELLOGG SQUARE APARTMENTS 112m/366f, 32 stories, 1972
5. THE POINTE OF SAINT PAUL 104m/340f, 33 stories, 1988
6. US BANK CENTER 103m/338f, 25 stories, 1975
7. ST. PAUL TRAVELERS BUILDING 101m/330f, 17 stories, 1991
8. BREMER TOWER 100m/328f, 27 stories, 1980
9. THE 400 BUILDING 100m/327f, 21 stories, 1982
10. LANDMARK TOWERS 100m/327f, 25 stories, 1983


The building data, the top 10 of tallest buildings and some of the building information
are courtesy of EMPORIS.COM,
One of the world's leading architectural resources on tall buildings on the Internet

All pictures copyright © 2005 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
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