Overview

The Turnblad House is notable for its French Chateau architecture and connection to Swedish heritage in Minnesota. 

• Location: 2600 Park Avenue
• Neighborhood: Phillips West

Historic profile

The Turnblad House is notable for its French Chateau architecture and connection to Swedish heritage in Minnesota. Swan J. Turnblad immigrated from Sweden to Minnesota. He bought a Swedish-American newspaper called the Svenska Amerikanska Posten. By 1897, it was the largest Swedish language newspaper in the country.

Boehme and Cordella designed the house. Herman Schlink completed the exterior carving and interior plaster work. The three-story mansion has 33 rooms. It is built of Bedford limestone, with many carved accents. It has three turrets and looks like a castle. On the south side of the house, there is a large porte-cochere with a solarium above. To the west of the house, there is a two-story carriage house.

The interior is ornately decorated. All major rooms have individually sculpted plaster ceilings. Neuman and Vogal Glass Company created a custom painted window for the house. Rare woods are carved in intricate designs. Many rooms have tiled fireplaces called kakelugnar.

Swan lived with his wife Christina and daughter Lillian in an apartment downtown above the newspaper. It is not clear how much time they spent in the mansion. They owned Turnblad House for 19 years. In 1929, Swan founded the American Swedish Institute. He donated their house, newspaper, book collection, and artifacts to the organization. The Turnblad House is part of the museum and houses Swedish-American exhibits. A large museum addition was completed in 2012.