Munger Terrace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Munger Terrace
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Munger Terrace viewed from the south
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 Location in Duluth
Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 405 Mesaba Avenue, Duluth, Minnesota |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1891–92 |
| Architect | Oliver G. Traphagen and Francis W. Fitzpatrick |
| Architectural style | Châteauesque, Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002176 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
Munger Terrace is a very special and historic rowhouse (a house that shares walls with others in a row) in Duluth, Minnesota. It was designed by famous architects Oliver G. Traphagen and Francis W. Fitzpatrick. This amazing building was constructed between 1891 and 1892. It first had eight super luxurious homes inside. Munger Terrace is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. People recognize it as one of Duluth's best examples of Châteauesque architecture, which is a fancy, castle-like style.
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The Story of Munger Terrace
Building a Grand Home
This impressive building was made for Roger S. Munger, an important businessman in early Duluth. It was built right next to his own big mansion. The homes inside Munger Terrace were meant to be rented out. This was the only time Mr. Munger built rental properties.
The architects, Oliver G. Traphagen and Francis W. Fitzpatrick, designed it. The building has a unique look. Some people say it's in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Others call it Châteauesque, which means it looks a bit like a French castle. The National Register of Historic Places describes it as Renaissance Revival.
Luxury Living in the 1890s
Each of the original townhouses was different. They were huge, with sixteen rooms each! They had separate front and back stairs. Imagine having central steam heat, running water on every floor, and gas for cooking. They even had electric lighting, which was very modern back then.
The building was placed on a hill in the Central Hillside neighborhood. It was high up, with great views. In front of the building, there were beautiful gardens. These gardens had fountains and even a gazebo. It must have been a wonderful place to live!
Changes to the Name and Area
When it was first built, the project was called Piedmont Terrace. But the street below it changed names. It was first called Piedmont Avenue, then Mesabi Avenue, and now it's Mesaba Avenue. So, the building's address is now 405 Mesaba Avenue.
A School for Sisters
One of the first groups to rent homes in Munger Terrace was the Benedictine Sisters. They rented three of the homes (numbers 6 through 8). They even used two rooms as a chapel. The nuns started a school there. This school later grew and became the College of St. Scholastica. The sisters eventually moved out because they needed more space.
Munger Terrace Today
Roger S. Munger's mansion, which was next door, was taken down in 1955. But its carriage house (where horses and carriages were kept) is still there. It's now used as a caretaker's house.
Over the years, Munger Terrace changed. In 1915, the large townhouses were divided into smaller apartments. In the 1970s, Mesaba Avenue was made wider. This meant some of the land in front of the building was lost. What's left now is a lawn.
Munger Terrace was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976. From 1978 to 1979, the building got a big makeover. A group called Town View Improvement Corporation fixed it up. They put in new windows, skylights, and a new roof. They also updated the heating, utilities, and kitchens. They even added sprinklers for safety. Munger Terrace is still a rental building today.
