Once There Were Castles: Lost Mansions and Estates of the Twin Cities Hardcover – August 27, 2011

Very neat book

I’m a lifelong lover of history, and have just started getting into local (Minnesota) history and this has BLOWN me away. I cannot put this masterpiece away, honestly. It’s gotten me to think of the way our state was when it was in its infancy, and in such a fascinating way. I go to and through Saint Paul a few times a month, and I’ve so truly enjoyed being able to say, “I know what used to be here, and here and over there!” every time I take that drive!Now if only I had the money to build one of these mansions myself!

This one of the saddest books ever written. You will agree when you realize each structure highlighted within these pages is now merely a photographic memory. As a preservationist I feel this book should be sitting on the desk of city planners nationwide as an example of how we haphazardly destroy the very elements of our cities that make them unique. It should also be on a reading list for any course dealing with the growth and demise of American cities. This is an exceptional work in a field which is full of volumes like this. You need not be a native of, or even interested in the twin cities to enjoy this book. This is a work detailing the worst of our American architectural heritage, in that we destroy practically everything around us.

Bought used. Great history of great homes in the twin city’s. Very interesting of a time long gone.

Item arrived just as described. I’m very pleased with my purchase, and with the seller’s assessment and description! Would purchase from this seller again! Thank You Very Kindly.

The photos collected in this book are awe inspiring, informative, but sadly morose. To know and see that these houses once stood in the Twin Cities, but only to be demolished is a travesty. These houses went by the way of the wrecking ball, but to have that monstrosity of stainless steel to remain standing at the U of M on Washington Ave. puts into perspective of what is wrong in this world. Share this book with all like-minded-people (i.e. taste for beauty). Only a brilliant mind could draw-up such incredible lavishing mansions and highly skilled hands could build that very same mansion. It's hard to believe that these houses once stood. I'm glad to have purchased this book.

For any architecture history buff, this book is unequalled, particularly in Minnesota.

I was amazed at the size of single family homes that were standing in Minneapolis in the 1800's. We really were the cities of Castles. I never imagined we had such wealth in the early years of the Twin cities. Larry Millet has created a awesome wealth of cultural history in his book. I feel this book has given me an appreciation of how Minneapolis and St.Paul were the heart of abundance and style during their formative years. After reading Larry's book I felt a bit sad that most of these works of art are no longer standing for us to enjoy.Wes HamiltonBroker Minnesota Lakes Realty[...]