The Samuel Dearing House

The Samuel Dearing House (formerly known as The Dearing Mansion) has been a St. Paul West Side landmark since 1885 when it was built by the Dearing family. Samuel Dearing was a successful dairyman until he transitioned to real estate development, and, eventually to serve in the state legislature. The Dearings owned much of the bluffs over the growing river city. Sam Dearing retained a prime spot for his family's home and chose the renowned architect, Augustus Gauger, to design and build the Dearings' impressive bluff-top home.

Due to an economic downturn, the Dearings lost the house in 1893. It was subsequently owned by a number of people. After WWII, similarly to many large homes of the time, it was divided into 4-5 apartments. Remarkably, most of the architectural features were kept intact. Due to the excellent work of several devoted owners from 1976-2019, the house was largely restored to its original condition. It is considered to be one of the most well-preserved homes from the Victorian era in the Twin Cities.

The Dearing, overseen by Gauger, was built from German-made bricks and with Kasota stone features. It is a showcase of Victorian craftsmanship at its finest. The Queen Anne-Italianate structure boasts nine fireplaces with mirrors from France, eight beautiful stained glass windows, stunning woodwork from eleven varieties of wood, unique lighting fixtures, and ornate architectural details. While spacious and impressive, the antique-filled Dearing is also warm and cozy, offering tastefully themed guest rooms and comfortable parlours.

We realize that we are only able to be the current stewards of this lovely home because of the past: the vision of its first family, the craftsmanship of its architect, artisans, and builders, the care given by previous inhabitants, and the meticulous restoration by previous owners. We're committed to honoring their work in our upkeep and care of this historic home as we weave our family's history into theirs.

Our desire is to add to The Samuel Dearing House’s enduring history

by opening the doors and welcoming you in!