Cathedral of Saint Paul

Address 239 Selby Ave, Saint Paul

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a large Beaux-Arts church completed in 1915, sitting on a prominence at the top of Summit Avenue. The building is modelled loosely on St. Peter's in Rome — a wide nave, an elaborate sanctuary, and a dome that is visible from much of downtown St. Paul. The interior is cooler and quieter than its exterior suggests, with high windows that filter the Minnesota light.

The cathedral is an active parish and open to visitors during the day. It anchors the east end of Summit Avenue, providing a starting point for the walk west along the mansions toward the Mississippi. Free tours are available on most weekdays.

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A story
The cathedral's architect, Emmanuel Masqueray, designed both the St. Paul Cathedral and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis — inaugurating a tradition of grand Catholic architecture in the Twin Cities that earned the region the nickname "the Cathedral of the North." Masqueray was born in Rouen, France, and trained in Paris; the design shows strong French Beaux-Arts influence, unusual for American Catholic architecture of the period.