City of Saint Peter Tornado Recovery Effort – Saint Peter

With over forty properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places and a population of 10,000, Saint Peter boasts one of the highest per capita concentrations of historic buildings in the state. Founded in 1853, it is one of Minnesota’s oldest cities and historically was an important transportation, agriculture, and trade center. On March 29, 1998, the city was hit by a tornado that severely damaged many of its historic buildings. Never before had a natural disaster had such a direct impact on historic resources. The Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and some thirty-five volunteer architects sprung into action to provide historic property owners with technical and financial assistance. In April of that year, the Minnesota Legislature passed a tornado relief bill that earmarked $1 million for historic preservation; just six months later it approved an additional $350,000 for the restoration efforts. Today, after an extensive community commitment to rebuild and the support of the State of Minnesota and preservation community, buildings have been restored and one of the state’s most historic cities continues to charm residents and visitors alike.