Have you ever wondered how the city of Saint Paul really came to be? Obviously, the indigenous Dakota and Ojibwe tribes inhabited the area now established as the capital of our state before white settlers took over the land. It is imperative to recognize that history and to mention it.

Many may not know that Saint Paul got its name, which pays homage to the Catholic Church, because of a little log chapel built in the area in 1841 by the Labissoniere family. When they settled here, the area was still referred to as Pig’s Eye Marsh, named after a liquor dealer, Pig’s Eye Parrant. Without the construction of the Log Chapel and the growing influence of the Catholic Church, Minnesota’s capitol would more than likely still be Pig’s Eye Marsh.

Library of Congress Archives
This is what the log chapel looked like in 1933, many years after construction.
Library of Congress Archives
The interior of the log chapel is fascinating. It's hard to believe a growing congregation could ever fit inside the chapel for mass. The chapel cost $65 to construct.
A little more than a decade after the log chapel was built in Pig's Eye Marsh, The Saint Paul Capitol Building was constructed.
Wikimedia / Minnesota Historical Society
A French Priest in the 1840s detested the name "Pig's Eye," and declared the city Saint Paul on a marriage certificate, making that the first legal document with the name.

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Joseph Cretin was the first Catholic Bishop in Saint Paul.
Wikimedia / Minnesota Historical Society
By 1851 with a congregation that had doubled in size within a decade, Bishop Cretin declared the church's formal name as The Cathedral of Saint Paul. This photo was taken around 1850.
The Log Chapel eventually was rebuilt on Summit Hill to be The Cathedral of Saint Paul.
Flickr / Cedric Dean
The Cathedral has had four different locations, but it's final spot is the most stunning.
Flickr/Ken Kanouse
The Cathedral has clearly much more opulent architecture than the old original Log Chapel, but both have plenty of history.

It’s hard to believe that a tiny wooden chapel built in the 1840s decided the city of Saint Paul’s destiny. Even if you aren’t of the Catholic faith, it’s undeniable that this is an incredibly cool piece of history. Do you have a favorite chapel in Minneapolis or Saint Paul? We would love to hear about it!

If you are interested in Minneapolis history, please read This Is What Minneapolis Looked Like A Hundred Years Ago And It May Surprise You.

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