Saint Paul, mansion (once the largest private residence in Minnesota) was built by railroad magnate James J. Hill and shows what unlimited funding could accomplish in 1891. It is 36,000 ft2 with 13 bathrooms, 22 fireplaces, 16 chandeliers, and a reception hall nearly 100 feet long,

After James J. Hill died in 1916 and his wife died five years later, the children eventually moved out. 

In 1925, four of the daughters purchased the house from the estate and donated it to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The church used it for the next fifty-three years as space for offices, residences, and a teacher’s college for women.

 Fortunately, the church preserved it well and did not make any significant alterations, although most of the original furniture was sold during this period. 

The Minnesota Historical Society acquired the house in 1978 after the Archdiocese consolidated its offices elsewhere.

https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse

https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/james-j-hill-house/2208

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=627174433613972&set=pcb.627175826947166

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/08/04/historic-piece-minnesota-architecture-james-j-hill-house/

(It would be cool to discover that some railroad owner either converted a railroad station for his own home, or had a home made to look like the old Victorian era train station)