Explore the life, times, and complex legacy of Minnesota’s most prominent politician in this exquisitely preserved Victorian mansion.
A uniquely preserved historic treasure
Alexander Ramsey rose within the political ranks of his home state of Pennsylvania before he was appointed Governor of Minnesota Territory in 1849. He later served as Minnesota’s second state governor, mayor of St. Paul, a US Senator, and Secretary of War.
Three generations of the Ramsey family came to occupy this 1872 mansion. In 1964, on the death of the last surviving family member, it was willed to the Minnesota Historical Society. Today, the Alexander Ramsey House is one of the best-preserved Victorian homes in the world, filled with over 14,000 original family objects and furnishings.
About the people and the house
Ramsey After Dark: Victorian Superstitions
This tour explores the mysterious world of superstitions and examines what they reveal about the hopes, fears, and beliefs of 19th century Americans.
