The Minnesota State Fair rolls into town this month! The great Minnesota get-together celebrates all things that make Minnesota, well, Minnesota. The history, the people, and of course, the food – some things you can only get here! I mean, where else will you find a deep-fried Norwegian Banana Split (banana wrapped in lefse, deep fried and topped with ice cream, mixed berries, nuts, whipped cream)?

But there are lots of other things that make our state unique – for instance, our distinctive style and history. Minnesota is filled with beautiful homes that contribute to our rich history. So once you have had your fill of deep-fried something on a stick at the fair, why not take some time to visit these historic Minnesota homes:

The F. Scott Fitzgerald House, also known as Summit Terrace, in Saint Paul is part of a rowhouse designed by William H. Willcox and Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.. The house, located on Summit Avenue, is listed as a National Historic Landmark for its association with author F. Scott Fitzgerald. The design of the rowhouse was called the “New York Style”, where each unit was given a distinctive character similar to rowhouses in eastern cities. It was here that Fitzgerald worked on and completed This Side of Paradise in 1919, at the age of 23. He is also remembered for his novels The Beautiful and Damned and The Great Gatsby.

The James J. Hill House, also in Saint Paul, was built by railroad executive James J. Hill. The house, completed in 1891, is located near the eastern end of Summit Avenue. With 36,000 square feet of living area on five floors (including 13 bathrooms, 22 fireplaces, 16 crystal chandeliers, a two-story skylit art gallery and a 100-foot reception hall) the house is the largest residence in Minnesota.

Frank B. Kellogg lived in this St. Paul house from 1889 until his death in 1937. Kellogg was a lawyer, U.S. Senator and diplomat. As Secretary of State (1925–29), he negotiated the Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928), for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize. The original concept for the house was inspired by 19th century Queen Ann and Romanesque styles.

The Charles A. Lindbergh House and Park in Little Falls was once the farm of Congressman Charles August Lindbergh and his son Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator. The farm has since been turned into a state park, including the restored 1906 house and two other farm buildings. The house was built by Charles A. Lindbergh on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Since Frank and Elizabeth Hirshfield opened their first store in 1894, it has been our mission to do the best job possible meeting customer needs and solving customer problems. Hirshfield’s. People and products you can trust.