Alexander Ramsey House

Alexander Ramsey is one of the true goosebumpers of history along with the Zodiac Killer and Jeff Dahmer. I have heard from historians that in life he was very similar to the creeper from the Jeepers Creepers films. That said, I did not get many frights in this haunted house. I thought maybe they could have had one of those mystery boxes where you reach in and think it is eyeballs but it is actually peeled grapes.
However I must give the Ramsey House 5 stars, because the tour guides wear old-​timey clothes that make it look like you have a big bottom! What a riot! Maybe you’ll find MY ghost haunting this mansion, because I swear I died of laughter!

I had a bizarre experience here today. I walked into the Gift Shop and hung out looking at stuff for 20 minutes while people were talking in the back. I wanted to pay admission and walk around the house. Finally, I peeked in the back and some lady said, «are you Dustin?» Huh?
When she saw I was just a member of the public she hurriedly hustled me out the door and told me they were closed for staff interviews and did I not see the sign, etc. I did see a small, handwritten sign on a dry erase board, but I was confused about why the gift shop would be wide open, lights on and merchandise unattended if the entire place was closed down. All the sign said was that there were no tours, not that the entire building was closed. I thought it was possible to take a self-​guided tour even if staff were «busy.» Honestly I haven’t been to very many historical sites where self-​guided tours are forbidden.
Basically, the point of this weird experience is that whatever non-​profit is running this place is extremely disorganized and unable to communicate something as basic as being closed to the general public, not to mention the fact it can’t even secure its premises. It’s pretty irresponsible to leave the front door open and an entire gift shop unattended. I could have walked off with half of their stuff and no one would have been the wiser.
On her way to rushing me out the door, the lady acted very annoyed and mumbled something about what they can’t do because of budget cuts, even as she was discouraging me from making a purchase from their gift store. To me, this illustrates exactly why non-​profits are in dire straights. They want charitable donations from everyone even while turning down opportunities to become more self sufficient.
A similar thing happened a week or so ago when I attended an evening lecture on 19^th century spiritualism with a friend at the Ramsey House. We arrived late and didn’t have the chance to pay for our tickets until it was over. I had to ask three people how and where to pay. No one made any effort to bother us for money, and had I not been extremely proactive, it would have been free for my friend and I, but not for the taxpayers. This is ridiculous, and perfectly illustrates why non-​profits do not deserve financial support. This place can’t even manage to collect money from people attending an event. It isn’t like we slipped in quietly or secretly either.
To many organizations, «non-​profit» doesn’t simply mean they don’t make any money, but that they actively throw it away.

My wife and I hit a new pub in St. Paul called the Blue Door before touring this cool old Victorian house of one of the first governors of Minnesota. We had some awesome burgers and beer before our free tour the Historical Museum was giving of its properties this weekend.
We entered the house feeling full and happy from a couple of Surly Furious pints and signed up for our tour.
We entered the house with a great guide dressed in a top hat and suit of the 1800’s when Ramsey would have lived in the house.
The house was one of the few in old time Minnesota with gas lighting and running water. There was a bathtub and even an indoor water closet. It was interesting that there were chamber pots around the house because women did not like to remove all the bussels and stuff.
They showed the bells and talking tubes for the servants to be called upon. They showed the kitchen and offered baked cookies from the oven.
The children’s’ rooms were well adorned and Ramsey had a play room for the children up in the attic along with the servants’ rooms.
The whole layout was perfect, great character actors as guides and pretend servants. Even though they had a lot of people taking the tour, they kept it well run and you quickly became envious of such a large, cool house.
Highly recommended for a crummy day outside when you’re looking for something to do. Hey, and it’s educational!

I have fond memories of visiting this place as a kid growing up. Great tour of old Victorian house for out of town guests with kids.

A favorite tour in St. Paul of this stunning late 1800s Victorian home. Tour guides are dressed in Victorian attire. The carriage house is a well stocked gift shop with replica items. Tours year round. A good school-​age field trip.