Stories, Stonework & Stewardship Mansion Project

Luxurious interior with a richly carved wooden fireplace, ornate patterned red carpet, and a staircase adorned with a detailed railing. Marble facade on the fireplace and a potted plant complete the elegant setting.

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Stories, Stonework & Stewardship

A Campaign to Restore the Historic Turnblad Mansion and Carriage House

Over nearly a century, through passionate stewardship and creativity, the Turnblad Mansion has become one of America’s premier historic houses and the heartbeat of a wide community. But our beloved Mansion is showing its age, and the deteriorating impact of time and weather have left their marks.

We have launched a $22 million campaign to rehabilitate the interiors and exteriors of the Mansion and Carriage House, and to reimagine the Mansion’s interior spaces for programs, gatherings and world-class exhibitions.

The project will restore and revive the Turnblad Mansion so that this historic home is preserved for future generations and can best serve our 21st-century visitors by sharing and prompting stories of how, through migration, people bring ideas that transform themselves and their communities. The project will also rehabilitate the Carriage House into an accessible, functional, and tasteful space for staff and volunteers that encourages creativity and collaboration.

Editing/Cinematography: Francis Sampah, Egobee

Phase 1 Completed

A stone balustrade shows visible damage, with crumbling and flaking concrete at the base. Pieces of debris are scattered, indicating structural deterioration. The background is an urban setting.

Rebuilt the Veranda

Decades of natural weathering combined with salt and ice have led to irreparable damage to the limestone

A close-up of a textured wall with a section of surface material peeling away, exposing a rusty screw beneath. The surrounding wall has a grid-like pattern with faint horizontal and vertical lines.

Bolstered the Carriage House

Structural breaches in the west foundation threatened the building’s stability

A stone castle-like building with a cylindrical turret on a sunny day. The turret has a conical roof and decorative carvings. Surrounding the building are green trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

Stabilized the Tower & Turret

These iconic features of the east entrance were severely cracked and structurally unsound

Close-up of a stone building corner, showing detailed masonry work with smooth blocks and a decorative cornice. The structure has a weathered appearance, with vertical black metal rails visible at the top right edge.

Braced the Solarium

Visible cracks in the stonework were evidence that the metal support structure behind was rusting and shifting

A large, arched window with a wooden frame divides the view into six sections. Through the glass, a flat roof and distant green trees are visible, with sunlight illuminating the scene. The interior is dimly lit.

Restored the Windows

All 165 original windows needed varying levels of repair to stem ongoing deterioration

Close-up of complex wiring with multiple colored wires and connectors inside an electrical panel. Red, black, and white wires are visible, some connected to terminal posts. The background is dark, highlighting the colorful wires.

Updated Building Systems

To support future museum experiences new HVAC and electrical services were needed

A modern office space with multiple workstations separated by light blue partitions. Two people work on laptops, while others stand or walk. Pendant lights hang from the ceiling, and large windows let in natural light.

A Place for Staff & Volunteers

Last remodeled in 1983, the Carriage House offices have transformed into an accessible, modern work environment

Close-up of a weathered, ornate metal fence with intricate designs and a pointed finial. The background features a gravel surface and the feet of two people wearing casual shoes.

Restored Fence

Years of rusting and damage from weather led to the original fencing being restored

A banquet hall with round tables set for an event. Each table has blue chairs and is covered with a white tablecloth. The walls have decorative murals near the ceiling. The room has wooden floors and soft, warm lighting.

Transformed Paulson Hall & Classrooms

Remolded classrooms to meet our growing community needs

Phase 2 Project Goals

Black-and-white photo of an ornately decorated room with intricate ceiling designs, a patterned stove against the wall, a large ornate chandelier, and a decorative urn in the corner. The room features detailed molding and trim.

Restore Mansion Interiors

Select rooms, including the Den, will be restored to their original design

A historic stone building with a turret and a steeply pitched roof against a clear blue sky. The structure has ornate architectural details and large windows. Lush green lawn and bushes are in the foreground.

More Updates to Come

The goals and plan for Phase 2 are currently in progress

“ASI is my touchstone place.

As I raised a family, I frequently visited with my family and we shared the magic together. It is imperative that places like ASI are cared for so that many other generations may also enjoy these moments of wonder and awe.

Michael Bjornberg

Preservation Architect and ASI Trustee

This campaign showcases the Turnblad Mansion’s irreplaceable value.

The entire region can take pride in its majesty and would experience a profound loss if this treasure weren’t preserved for future generations.

Mary Dee Hicks

ASI Trustee

Just as we appreciate the immigrant experience for current immigrants, we appreciate it for past and future immigrants. We find solidarity in the understanding of leaving one place and finding home in a new place, whether it is Swedish or Hmong or Somali.

Kristen Stuenkel

ASI Member

There are many wonders in the Turnblad Castle, from the hand-carved, two-story mantel in the Grand Hall to the brilliantly colored Visby painted glass window, to the 11 imported kakelugnar (ceramic stoves) throughout the house.

Larry Millett

Minnesota's Own: Preserving Our Grand Homes

ASI builds an inclusive community in the Phillips neighborhood and in the Twin Cities. As we become more diverse in the coming decades, institutions like ASI can play a critical role in advancing more peaceful and prosperous communities.

Hamse Warfa

Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development at the Minnesota DEED

I had this idea in mind when I first began to build the home. I wanted it to endure for a hundred thousand years. And I wanted to have it so arranged that it might be converted to later uses.

Swan J. Turnblad

Publisher, Svenska Amerikanska Posten