The Hamm Building is built on property where the home of the bishop the St. Paul Cathedral once stood. In 1914 the land was purchased and the house was removed to make way for a new department store. The project stalled and funding was delayed during the First World War. These obstacles were swept away after local brewer, William Hamm got involved to finance the construction of what would became the new office building for his brewery.
Completed in 1919, the limestone, brick and terra cotta Hamm Building was designed by Engineers and Architects – Toltz, King and Day Inc. Noted for exceptional ornamentation it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1997. Architect Roy Childs Jones, later dean of the University of Minnesota’s School of Architecture is credited with many of the buildings finer features. In 1920 the 3,000-seat Capitol Theatre, considered to be biggest, most expensive, and most elaborate movie palace in the Upper Midwest was built into the Hamm building. It quickly became one of the most popular places in the Twin Cities area. The building’s three basements provided additional entertainments including an indoor skating rink, 40 bowling lanes and 50 billiards tables.
