Irvine Park

Irvine Park is Saint Paul's oldest park, established in the 1840s and surrounded by some of the finest preserved Victorian residential architecture in the city. The small, circular park is the centerpiece of a historic district that transports visitors back to the earliest days of Minnesota's capital.

The park itself features mature trees, a central fountain, and the quiet, genteel atmosphere of a 19th-century neighborhood square. The surrounding homes, dating primarily from the 1850s through the 1880s, represent a variety of Victorian architectural styles and have been carefully maintained and restored.

Several of the homes surrounding Irvine Park are open for tours during special events, giving visitors a chance to see the interiors of these beautifully preserved residences. The Alexander Ramsey House, home of Minnesota's first territorial governor, is located adjacent to the park and is open to the public as a museum.

Irvine Park hosts community events throughout the year, including a popular Victorian-themed Christmas celebration. The park and its surrounding district provide a tangible connection to Saint Paul's founding era and the domestic life of its earliest leading citizens.