Minnesota State Capitol
This historic hall of Minnesota government may be haunted by the apparition of its architect
Paranormal Claims at the
Minnesota State Capitol
- Cold spots are frequently encountered
- Apparitions are spotted around the building
- Unexplained noises are frequently heard on the second floor
- Visitors to Room 217 report being locked in by unknown forces
- Doors in the building slam shut and door handles rattle with no known cause
- Shadow figures manifest at times
- Feeling of unease and sensations of being watched are reported in the east wing
Ghosts in Government:
History of the Minnesota State Capitol
Hauntings and history often go hand-in-hand. Wherever history is made, hauntings seem to follow. And for the state of Minnesota, there are few places with as much impactful history as the Minnesota State Capitol.
The Minnesota State Capitol has been the center of state government for well over a century. It’s been the site of life-changing lawmaking, impassioned protests, and state-shaping compromises.
The palatial stone building keeps the spirit of good governance flowing through every corridor and room.
But that may not be the only spirit in the Minnesota State Capitol. St. Paul lore says politicians and pivotal figures of the past now haunt the historic building.
Timeline of Minnesota State Capitol's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Minnesota State Capitol through the years
1854
The modern Minnesota State Capitol is actually the third building to serve that role. Minnesota’s first capitol building was opened in 1854. This was actually several years before Minnesota’s statehood was finalized. The small, simple building served the new state well for a few decades. But, in 1881, a fire reduced the capitol to ruins. A new capitol was quickly built, opening for business in 1883.
1896
The first capitol’s fire offered Minnesota a chance at a redesign. However, the second building proved woefully inadequate. There were various concerns about space, utilities, and fireproofing. This soon resulted in demands for another replacement. Work began on an expansive new building in St. Paul in 1896. The grand design, from famed architect Cass Gilbert, took nine years to complete. But when it opened in 1905, the third Minnesota State Capitol promised to be a long-lasting hall of government.
1905
After almost a decade of careful design and construction, the Minnesota State Capitol was ready to face the test of time. Over the following decades, the building greeted hundreds of legislators and political leaders, and saw countless laws shepherded through its legislature. But while the building was a major improvement over the previous capitols, even this one had its drawbacks. As the government expanded in the 1950s and 60s, several state offices had to move out of the building. By the 1980s, the capitol was also showing its age.
1985
Major restoration projects began at the Minnesota State Capitol in 1985. The goals were to preserve the historic splendor of the eighty year old building, as well as bring it up to modern standards. Over the decades that followed, individual projects restored multiple facets of the building. Some of these included the senate chamber, the house chamber, the quadriga, and the third floor ceilings. Additional restoration projects occurred in the 2010s. These helped prepare the century-old capitol for a hundred more years of use.
2026
Today, the Minnesota State Capitol remains a busy hall of government and a popular tourist stop in St. Paul. The building’s grand exterior makes the perfect backdrop for many tourist selfies. The carefully preserved halls within often greet tour groups and school field trips. And, of course, the building is always full of lawmakers, jurists, and politicians working to keep the state moving. But as modern politicians wrestle for the state’s future, the capitol’s ghosts preserve its political history.
Is the Minnesota State Capitol Haunted?
Even a hundred and twenty years after it opened, the details of the Minnesota State Capitol’s design still stand out. Much of its grand appearance is thanks to the work of its architect, Cass Gilbert. Gilbert apparently adored his work so much, he decided to make the capitol his afterlife home.
Cass Gilbert’s ghost is one of the most well known around the Minnesota State Capitol today. His vivid apparition purportedly roams just about everywhere, from the basement to the dome. Witnesses say he doesn’t do much more than walk around and look at things. Some liken him to an artist, forever admiring his finished design.
The Ghost of William Colvill, Civil War Hero
Cass Gilbert isn’t the only famous phantom haunting the Minnesota State Capitol. Another common ghost story focuses on William Colvill. Colvill was a decorated Civil War veteran.
He was famous for leading Minnesota’s 1st Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Gettysburg. And when he died in 1905, Colvill became the first person to lie in state in the new capitol.
After his funeral, a bronze statue of him was erected inside the building. Not long after the statue went up, people passing by it started seeing double. They would see the apparition of Colvill posing right beside his statue, only to take a second look and see only the statue standing there.
Colvill’s ghostly figure has made many appearances in the capitol over the years. But unlike the ghost of Gilbert, he never wanders far from his usual place.
Room 217: Locked In by an Unseen Force
Another, more uncertain claim at the Minnesota State Capitol tells of the ghost of Calvin Brown. Brown served as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court until his death in 1923. And now, based on a few reports, his specter may be haunting the state’s capitol.
Several people have seen a figure matching his description. Still today, he is blamed for shadowy forms and mists exploring the building.
Calvin Brown may also be the source spirit for another odd claim. The claim focused on a former judicial office on the second floor, purportedly Room 217.
Visitors to the room sometimes get locked in by unseen forces. But, they’re always freed after just a few moments. Perhaps it’s Calvin’s idea of a simple joke?
Footsteps and Knocks on the Second Floor
Aside from Calvin Brown’s potential hotspot, the rest of the capitol’s second floor is home to strange activity. But, many of the second floor claims stem from the empty hours of the night.
At those times, when the capitol is quiet, small sounds of out-of-place footsteps sometimes echo through the second floor. On other occasions, strange knocks, taps, and other noises billow through the building’s shadows.
Reports of Cold Spots
The Minnesota State Capitol has its share of well-known specters and hotspots. But much of the building’s activity is widespread. Additionally, many of the most common claims cannot be tethered to any one spirit. Cold spots are regular reports all through the building, and no one can ever be sure which ghost is causing them.
One of Cass Gilbert’s main design tasks was to improve ventilation over the previous capitol. So maybe the cold gusts are just Gilbert’s ghost, making sure people stay cool inside.
Slamming Doors and Uneasy Feelings in the East Wing
Along with cold spots, doors swing open and shut around the capitol. Even when doors are locked, they may rattle and shake, as if some phantom is trying to get through. While these sorts of claims are common, they’re said to be especially common in the east wing.
The east wing is also notorious for conjuring uneasy feelings in people. Some people simply feel a presence lingering nearby. Others report the intense sensation of being watched. But, whenever they head to a different part of the building, the eerie feelings subside.
Visit the Haunted Minnesota State Capitol
Minnesota’s State Capitol is as bustling and busy as the day it first opened. Thanks to regular updates, the old building shows no signs of stopping.
The heart of Minnesota’s state government keeps on beating in St. Paul. And the government’s historic soul stays just as lively, thanks in part to the structure’s resident spirits.
Ghost hunts are not offered at the capitol building today, and are unlikely to be an offering in the future. But, nighttime ghost tours are occasionally hosted, most often around Halloween. So while you may not be able to freely explore the ghosts of Minnesota’s governmental past, there may still be a chance to witness what goes bump in the capitol’s night.
Politicians come and go, but laws can last forever. And at the Minnesota State Capitol, apparitions of architects and cold gusts of ghostly energy may be just as everlasting.
