5.5. SR 03-14-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE In the 1880s, St. Paul, and by extension, Ramsey County, became the transportation gateway to the Northwest. Not only was this the northernmost stop for steamers, paddlewheels and other shipping bringing goods and settlers north on the Mississippi River, at its peak in the 1880s, the Saint Paul Union Depot served as the primary stop for over 150 trains per day. Largely championed by railroad magnet James J. Hill, the hub was a mainstay until the mid- 1950s. This high level of traffic through the region made St. Paul and Ramsey County the cultural center for the state. Residents traveled from all areas to attend the opera, or perhaps take in the popular vaudeville acts as they made their appearance at St. Paul's Orpheum Theatre, the only stop that was made this far west into the prairies of the United States, by the famous New York Orpheum Circuit. Sarah Burnhart, Jenny Lind and Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys - all were headliners when they played the Orpheum in St. Paul. Ramsey County has a very active Historical Society. Their offices are in the Landmark Center, originally a federal courthouse that was saved from the wrecking ball, it now houses many cultural groups. One-room schoolhouse at Gibbs Farm Landmark Center The Society continues to encourage cultural activities by ensuring that history is respected and used as a teaching tool. For instance, the County operates the Gibbs Farm Museum on the site of one of the earliest farms in the County, housing James J. Hill's collection of rare sleighs and wagons in the barn. Children can attend classes - in period costume, if they wish, in a one-room-schoolhouse that was moved to the farmland located near the University of Minnesota's Saint Paul Campus. The Society offers many live, interactive events on the grounds all summer and durina key holidavs throuahout the year. ~ SPRINGSTED Page 4