Landmark Center (St. Paul) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Federal Courts Building
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 75 5th Street West Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1894–1901 |
| Architect | Willoughby J. Edbrooke |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000076 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1969 |
The Landmark Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a very old and important building. It was finished in 1902. When it first opened, it was the main post office, a courthouse, and a customs house for Minnesota. Today, it is a lively place for arts and culture. You can find it at 75 West Fifth Street, right next to Rice Park.
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Building Design and Style
The Landmark Center was designed by Willoughby J. Edbrooke. He was a special architect for the U.S. government. He designed many public buildings, and this one was finished after he passed away in 1896.
Outside the Building
The outside of the building is made of pink granite stones. It has a special clay tile roof that is very steep. This helps snow slide off easily in winter. You can see many cool towers, pointed gables, and windows sticking out of the roof. There are two very big towers, and one of them has a clock. The outside of the building does not have many fancy carvings.
Inside the Building
Inside, the Landmark Center has a huge, open area called a courtyard. It goes up five stories and has a skylight at the top. The rooms inside have very tall ceilings, about 20 feet high! They are decorated with beautiful marble and carved wood like mahogany and oak. The building's style is called Romanesque Revival. It looks a lot like another building Edbrooke designed, the Old Post Office Building in Washington D.C..
Landmark Center's History
This building has a rich history. When it was a federal courthouse, many important court cases took place here. Judges like Walter Henry Sanborn and John B. Sanborn Jr. had their offices in the building. Even a future U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Harry Blackmun, worked here as a law clerk in the 1930s.
Saving the Building
In the 1970s, some people wanted to tear the building down. But a group of citizens worked hard to save it. They helped restore it to its original beauty. A restoration expert named Donald J. Leier guided this big project. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical site. It reopened to the public as the Landmark Center in 1978.
What's Inside Today
After its big renovation from 1972 to 1978, the Landmark Center became a home for many arts groups. It is a busy place where people can enjoy music, dance, theater, and learn about history.
Arts and Culture Organizations
Today, you can find several interesting organizations and exhibits here:
- The American Association of Woodturners has a gallery called the AAW Gallery of Wood Art. Here you can see amazing art made from wood.
- The Ramsey County Historical Society Gallery and Research Center offers changing exhibits about local history. You can also research historical topics here.
- The Schubert Club Museum displays a collection of musical instruments.
- The Landmark Gallery features both permanent and temporary exhibits about local history.
- "Uncle Sam Worked Here" is a permanent exhibit that opened in 2007. It teaches you about all the different things that happened in the Landmark Center over the years.
- There are also spaces for music, dance, theater performances, and public discussions.
For a while, a high school called St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists had classes on the fifth floor. They have since moved to a new location. Now, the offices of the American Composers Forum are on the fifth floor.
Management and Services
Ramsey County owns the Landmark Center. It is managed by Minnesota Landmarks, which is a non-profit group. The building also has Anita's Cafe, a gift shop called Landmarket, and five different art galleries.
