By : Joseph Smith
The first thing that comes to anyone’s mind on the mention of the cities, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, is the Minnesota Landscape Design and the landscaping, St Paul has to offer. The former being the larger and the latter being the state capital, they are affectionately called as the “Twin Cities”. Despite the name “twins” they are pretty much different in each and every other aspect. Minneapolis is recognized as the one which has more broad boulevards and modern architectural designs, while at the same time, St Paul narrow streets possess late Victorian architecture. If we trace the cultural background, we notice that even they are at the opposite poles. Minneapolis is still believed to be influenced by Lutheran or, we can say, Scandinavian heritage while St. Paul is made up of early Irish, French and even German Catholic roots. The fact is quite visible that now also the two cities are making different progress, with the architects landscaping St. Paul with same old classical Victorian designs, while Minneapolis is trying all new, advanced and futuristic architectural designs.
St. Paul resident’s major pastime is considered as Ice fishing apart from Hunting, Snowmobiling and other outdoor activities. They always prefer outdoor activities much than the indoor activities. The environmentalism of the residents is pretty much understandable since St. Paul lies mostly on the bank of the Mississippi river. Thus, the city’s growth as a landing port is pretty much connected to the water areas. They are city’s prime physical feature, which evolved during the last ice age. The Pig’s Eye Lake, as the locals call it is the city’s largest lake, along with The Lake Phalen and The Lake Como. The residents call it as Pig’s eye after the famous Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant. The landscape around the lake is a sure work of art that some of the best landscape designers of the country have tried their skills on.
During winter time, St. Paul witnesses their famous tradition Saint Paul Winter Carnival, which was originated in 1886. In landscaping, St. Paul offers designs that are at its best since the event highlights the different art forms, ice sculpting and a fabulous ice palace. Over 3, 50,000 visitors attend the event. Other places like The Como Zoo and Conservatory and The Japanese Garden are also quite popular among the residents and tourists. St. Paul also has a Landmark Center which hosts art and cultural organizations. Apart from the popularity of the landscaping, St. Paul has attracted more tourists who one can also visit the famous parks that reflect the aura of the landscapes in St. Paul.
St. Paul is also home to many architectural wonders such as The Minnesota Museum of American Art, The Traces Center for History and Culture, The James J. Hill House, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, The Minnesota Transportation Museum, The Twin City Model Railroad Museum and The Schubert Club Museum of Musical Instruments all of which are adorned with some of the best landscapes in all of Minnesota.
Author Resource:-
Joseph Smith is author of this article on Landscape Minneapolis.
Find more information about Minnesota Landscape Design here.