Rice Park

Welcome to the final leg of our Rice Park exploration. We now turn our attention to the magnificent structures that form the southern and western borders of the square. …

Look to the south, to the eastern half of the massive stone complex facing the park. This is the James J. …

Seamlessly connected to the Hill Reference Library is the western half of the complex: The George Latimer Central Library, historically the Saint Paul Public Library. The unified appearance of these two institutions is the result…

Continuing west along Fourth Street, just beyond the library complex, we find the historic home of The Minnesota Club, now operating as an event space known as 317 on Washington. Organized on March 9, 1869, with General Henry…

Dominating the western edge of Rice Park is the striking, modern facade of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, completed in 1985. This building injected a vital new energy into the park, establishing it as the undisputed…

As we walk slightly further down Washington Street, the cultural landscape expands into the realm of massive civic gatherings. We encounter the Saint Paul RiverCenter, a multi-purpose complex that includes the Roy Wilkins…

Our walking tour of Rice Park's perimeter concludes as we return to our starting point near the fountain. Having circled the square, the profound density of history concentrated in this single city block becomes apparent. …

This concludes our comprehensive audio guide to Rice Park and its immediate surroundings. We have traced its evolution from a muddy pasture utilized by early pioneers and wandering livestock to its current status as a pristine,…