Layers of History

Layers of history give Lowertown its unique appeal. The Saint Paul neighborhood that sprouted at the "Lower Landing" on the Mississippi River grew into a major warehouse and distribution center serving the entire Upper Midwest. Lowertown's railroad, manufacturing, and wholesaling companies expressed their sense of pride and permanence in the structures they erected nearly a century ago, many of them designed by some of the nation's most renowned architects.

In 1983 Lowertown was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, giving the area protection under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The next year, the City of Saint Paul created The Lowertown Heritage Preservation District. Thanks to restoration and adaptive re-use, Lowertown enjoys new vitality in the mix of commercial and residential activities that make up this unique and exciting urban village.