| Hamm Building | |
| Location: | 408 Saint Peter Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Coordinates: | 44.9467°N -93.0967°W |
| Built: | 1920 |
| Architect: | multiple |
| Architecture: | Early Commercial |
| Added: | May 30, 1997 |
| Refnum: | 97000499 |
The Hamm Building is a 1920 limestone, terra cotta, and brick commercial building in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Prior to the construction of the Hamm Building, the third Catholic cathedral of Saint Paul stood on the location until it was demolished in 1914.[1] [2] Construction of a new department store designed by Toltz, King & Day began shortly thereafter, but after the erection of the steel framework construction was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I. The building became known as the "Great Open Air Building of St. Paul".[3]
With the Archdiocese of Saint Paul having only leased the property to the builders, Archbishop John Ireland called St. Paul Saints owner John Norton asking for assistance in completing construction. Norton initially tried and failed to convince John J. Raskob to have E. I. du Pont take over the project. Norton went on to ask the Hamm family if they would consider it. Norton marketed the idea as a "monument to William Hamm."[3] The Hamm family agreed and took over construction in 1919, with the project being finished in 1920.[4] The six-story building became an office for Hamm's Brewery.[5]
The ornamentation of the building is considered "exceptional."[6] [7] The lobby has a decorative terrazzo floor, glazed terra cotta walls with various classical motifs, and iron chandeliers. The building exterior features a terra cotta façade manufactured in Chicago, with a custom "pulsichrome" finish.[4] [8] Small gargoyles top the parapets.
Being in the heart of Saint Paul's theatre district, the Capitol Theatre was built into the Hamm building in 1920. It was the largest, most costly, and most elaborate movie palace in the Upper Midwest, and the first movie palace in Saint Paul. It was designed by Rapp and Rapp. The theater exterior and lobby were designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.[2] [8] [6] [9]
The building underwent a renovation in the 1990s.[4]
Since 1997, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]