Five Fun Facts from Landmark Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Originally a federal courthouse and later a post office for the Upper Midwest, Landmark Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota took 10 years to construct and reached completion in 1902. Designed by Willoughby J. Edbrooke, who served as supervising architect of the U.S. Treasury Department in 1891-92, the building’s exterior is pink granite ashlar, with a hipped red tile roof, enlivened by numerous turrets, gables and dormers. Cylindrical corner towers with conical turrets occupy almost every change of projection. Two massive towers, one featuring a clock, are particularly striking. Its Richardsonian Romanesque design gives the Landmark Center an appearance similar to Washington, D.C.’s Old Post Office Pavilion. Inside, the aesthetics are equally impressive, with a five-story courtyard, skylight and rooms with 20-foot ceilings, appointed with marble and carved mahogany finishes.

Today, Landmark Center is on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a cultural center for music, dance, theater, exhibitions, public forums and countless special events. Owned by Ramsey County, the Landmark Center is managed by Minnesota Landmarks, a not-for-profit organization. Landmark Center also houses five gallery spaces and a number of St. Paul's premier arts and culture organizations.

From actors and actresses (Arnold Schwarzenegger and Meryl Streep) to the “father of prohibition” (Rep. Andrew Volstead), plenty of movers and shakers have passed through Landmark Center over the years, and the building has been left with quite a few fascinating stories in their wake. These five fun facts demonstrate what makes Landmark Center such a notable historic site:

Nearly destroyed. In 1967, the federal government moved its offices to a new building and the building that is today known as Landmark Center was scheduled for demolition. Spearheaded by several determined citizens, a public campaign was mounted to save the building. It took several years to cut through miles of red tape and fundraise, but in 1970, less than a week before it was to undergo demolition, the Federal Courts Building was saved. It was restored to its original grandeur and placed on the National Register of Historic Places and reopened to the public as Landmark Center in 1978.

The politicians’ unusual entrance. Presidential candidates Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower made campaign speeches from the balcony over the Fifth Street entrance-- getting onto the balcony by crawling through the window of the office behind it.

Bathroom escape attempt. Evelyn (Billie) Frechette, girlfriend of bank robber John Dillinger, escaped a shootout in St. Paul, but she was later apprehended and returned to be tried in the Federal Courts Building (Landmark Center). She nearly broke free while using the restroom.

An unfortunate makeover. The marble walls of the main entrance lobby were painted with #102A government green. Additionally, marble wainscoting was cut down to install mailboxes. Brown linoleum covered the maple floors, crude tile replaced marble mosaic and corrugated asbestos covered the cortile skylight. The beautiful stained glass back-lit dome in the law library was painted over.


A cultural attraction accessible to all. Every year Landmark Center offers more than 140 free or low-cost events and more than 100 tours, welcoming nearly 270,000 visitors!

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Photos top to bottom: Landmark Center today, 2010, credit Bellagala. Restoration of Landmark Center, credit Minnesota Landmarks Archives. Dwight Eisenhower from Landmark Center Balcony, 1956, credit Minnesota Historical Society. United States Post Office Corridor, 1958, credit Minnesota Historical Society. Landmark Center Cortile used for Special Event, 2010, credit Bellagala.