The Minnesota State Capitol is free to visit, with a suggested donation for guided tours. That makes it an easy stop on a group trip to Saint Paul, since free tours leave at the top of the hour and last 45 minutes. This guide puts what your group needs in one place: what the tour shows you, how to get inside, and the short history behind the building. Every visitor detail comes from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS), which runs the Capitol as a historic site.
TLDR
- Entry is free, and the guided tour runs on a suggested donation.
- Tours start in Room 126, on your right as you come in the south doors.
- The tour covers the marble dome, the restored chambers and the new basement spaces, plus a walk out to the golden horses on the roof when the weather allows.
- Leave time for security screening, and think about the Green Line, which stops within a block of the Capitol Complex.
- Today's Capitol is Minnesota's third, opened in 1905 and restored from 2013 to 2017.
Ready to See the Capitol with Your Group?
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Can You Visit the Capitol for Free?
Yes. Entry to the Capitol is free, and the tour runs on a suggested donation rather than a ticket price. Tours leave at the top of the hour, so you can usually arrive, clear security and join the next one. That makes it one of the easier group outings to budget for. Tour times can change around holidays, and MNHS posts a holiday schedule, so check the current schedule on the MNHS tours page the week you go. The Capitol is also the working seat of state government. Rooms on the usual route can close for legislative sessions or court activities, and if your group is large, ask MNHS whether you need a reservation.
What Will Your Group See on the Free Guided Tour?
The free tour takes your group through the Capitol's best-known spaces, starting with the second-largest self-supported marble dome in the world. You'll also see the restored chambers where the Minnesota Legislature meets, conserved paintings and the new public areas in the basement. Weather permitting, guides walk your group out to the Quadriga (golden horses) on the roof.
The Dome and the Roof Walk
Stand in the rotunda and look straight up: the dome anchors the tour inside, and you'll spot it from blocks away. Point out the golden horses from the lawn before you go in, because it gives kids something to look forward to if the roof is open that day.
The Senate and House Chambers
The 2013 to 2017 work fully restored the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, along with the Supreme Court courtroom. The Minnesota Senate meets in the Senate chamber, and the Minnesota House of Representatives meets in the House chamber. These are the rooms where state laws are debated and passed. The governor's office is in the building too, so you may pass lawmakers and staff at work, especially during the legislative session.
Restored Art and the Third Floor Ceiling
During the restoration, 57 paintings in the Capitol were professionally conserved. When you reach the third floor, look up: the whole third-floor decorative ceiling was restored after water damage. Much of the interior's beauty sits overhead, so remind everyone to glance up between stops.
The Basement and New Public Spaces
The 4-year renovation added almost 40,000 square feet of new public space, including meeting rooms and gallery space. Downstairs, guides show the exposed limestone foundation walls, so you can see the stone the building rests on. These newer Capitol spaces feel very different from the formal rooms upstairs.
How Do You Get to the Capitol and Get Inside?
The Capitol is located on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Saint Paul, MN, just north of downtown. Come in the south entrance and clear screening. The Capitol Information and Tour Center is to your right, in Room 126 on the first floor. For your map app, the full address is 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd St. Paul, MN 55155.
Security Screening
The Capitol has an updated security plan that includes security screening for visitors, with details from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Build a few extra minutes into your arrival so the whole group clears screening before the tour leaves.
Light Rail, Bus and Access
Several Metro Transit bus stops and Green Line light rail stops are within a block of the Capitol Complex. The Green Line runs along University Avenue between downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul. That means a group staying in either city can leave the car behind.
If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or a stroller, ask MNHS about the easiest way in and around before you go.
Why Has Minnesota Had Three Capitols?
Minnesota has had three state capitol buildings because the first burned and the second was too small almost from the day it opened. The state capitol building you visit today is the third. It was designed by a young local architect and opened in 1905.
The Minnesota Territory legislature first met in a log hotel in Saint Paul in 1849. Minnesota became a state in 1858, and its first capitol was destroyed by a fire in 1881 that started during a legislative session. The second capitol building was completed in 1883, but the growing state soon needed more room.
Cass Gilbert's Winning Design
The 1895 design competition for a new statehouse drew more than 40 entries. The winner, Cass Gilbert, was a local architect who was just 35 years old at the time. He later designed the U.S. Supreme Court building. Construction began on May 6, 1896, and Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor, laid the cornerstone on July 27, 1898. Building the Capitol cost $4.5 million, a big bet for such a young state.
The Architecture You Can Spot from Outside
The exterior materials are white Georgia marble and St. Cloud granite. Gilbert's dome design echoes Michelangelo's Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, one of the most famous domes in the world. Six marble statues stand above the main entrance, so look up as you walk in.
The building rises 220 feet from the ground to the top of the dome's lantern and runs more than 430 feet from east to west. Inside, there's more than 300,000 square feet of floor space, so comfortable shoes are a good idea.
The 2013 to 2017 Restoration
After parts of the exterior marble were found to be deteriorating, the Capitol went through a $310 million repair and restoration project from 2013 to 2017. It was the largest preservation effort since the building opened, and it was completed in early 2017.
In each era's dollars, the restoration cost far more than the original construction. Part of that gap is a century of inflation, but it also shows how much work a building this size needs to stay open to visitors.
How to Plan Your Capitol Visit with a Group
A little planning keeps the day easy, especially with kids or a big group. Run through this list the week before you go:
- Check the tour schedule on the main MNHS tours page, not a third-party listing.
- Look at the forecast if the roof walk matters to your group, since it only happens when the weather allows.
- Arrive early enough for everyone to clear security screening before the top of the hour.
- Take the Green Line if you can, or check the Department of Admin's Public Parking page before you drive.
- Contact MNHS ahead of time if you're bringing a large group or need help getting around the building.
Still choosing dates? Our guide to the best time to visit Saint Paul can help you pick a season for your trip.
Roami, a modern vacation rental brand for urban group travel, has stays in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, including The Fitz in Saint Paul. Before you book, compare each stay's location with the Green Line route so the Capitol is an easy ride away. Learn more about Roami or see what it means to stay with Roami.
Our stays are for out-of-town visitors, so you can't book in your own city of residence. Check-in is 4 PM, check-out is 11 AM, quiet hours run from 9 PM to 8 AM, and every unit is non-smoking. Events, parties, and gatherings aren't allowed, so read our house rules before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Go on the Roof of the Minnesota State Capitol?
Yes, when the weather allows. The free guided tour walks out onto the roof to see the Quadriga, the golden sculpture of a four-horse chariot. Quadriga is the Latin word for that kind of chariot, and the piece was designed by Daniel Chester French and Edward C. Potter. If the weather turns, the roof stop is skipped, so pick a clear day if the horses matter to your group.
Where Do You Park to Visit the Minnesota State Capitol?
Check the state Department of Administration's Public Parking page, which MNHS points visitors to for Capitol parking. It covers street parking, disability parking, bike racks and EV charging around the Capitol Complex. Look at it close to your visit so you have current details. If your group is staying near the Green Line, the train is often simpler than finding a spot.
Can You Tour the Minnesota State Capitol Without a Guide?
Yes. Visitors can explore the Capitol on their own, and MNHS publishes a suggested itinerary for self-guided tours. Going on your own suits groups that arrive between tour times or want to move at a child's pace. The guided tour adds the roof walk, weather permitting, plus the stories behind each room, so you might take the tour first and wander afterward.
Can You Eat at the Minnesota State Capitol?
Yes, there is food inside, though options depend on the time of year. The restoration expanded dining on the basement level near the Rathskeller Cafe. It also added a grab-and-go lunch counter on the second floor that is open only during the legislative session. Check with MNHS on what's open the day you visit, or plan lunch nearby.
Ready to add the Capitol to your group's trip? Check dates at The Fitz in Saint Paul, or reach out with your dates and we'll help you find a Roami stay in Saint Paul or Minneapolis.
