Summit Avenue, "grande dame" of Victorian boulevards, is lined with magnificent turn-of- the-century mansions built by railroad magnates, lumber barons and captains of industry. Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District is a celebration of these homes on St. Paul's best-known and most beloved avenue. Extending four and a half miles high along the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River Valley, historic Summit Avenue was named one of Americas's Great Streets.Photographer Karen Melvin takes us along for a tour through stately mansions to view these remarkable architectural gems. Featuring the work of notable architects including Clarence Johnston, Cass Gilbert and Allen Stem readers experience the interiors first hand, including the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Richly illustrated with hundreds of colorful photos and fascinating stories penned by four award winning writers, the book opens the door to more than two dozen legendary homes situated on Americas best preserved avenue from the era.

This book offers an irresistible invitation to step through the doors of these showcase homes to explain what we are all curious to know: what is it like in there. Discover how the homeowners have restored the original grandeur and rich heritage of their homes while infusing them with new life and energy.