C-SPAN Cities Tour - Saint Paul: James J. Hill

Learn about James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railroad. Hill made his fortune in the railroad industry and built a house that symbolized success. In 1856 Hill, arrived in St. Paul. Within ten years he owned his own freight and storage business, and by 1878 he and four partners had acquired the bankrupt St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company. By the 1880s, Hill had become a major force in the development of the Upper Midwest. By his death in 1916, his net worth had grown to $63 million-almost a billion dollars today. Hear about the life of James Hill and tour his opulent St. Paul residence at 240 Summit Avenue providing insight into both the man and the social and cultural history of his time and place.

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Back in the day when poor people actually could get rich and famous.

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Hi