Minnesota Centennial Showboat, Saint Paul, MN

As big cities go, Saint Paul, Minnesota certainly has a number of tourist attractions. One could spend a month in Saint Paul without seeing all of the tourist spots. For those limited on time one place to go is the Minnesota Centennial Showboat. The showboat has quite a history as a theater. It is docked at Harriet Island Regional Park, which is on the banks of the Mississippi River. Any guest of the city will most likely see it as they pass by.

When one goes to the Showboat for a theater production they will be sent back in time to the Victorian age. The dycor is definitely Victorian with a grand staircase one might think belongs in a mansion. The richest section of the showboat is the 225 seat jewelbox theatre. Despite the looks of the Centennial Showboat it is not that old.

The Original Centennial Showboat was opened by the University of Minnesota in 1958 to celebrate the 100 years of Minnesota's statehood. In 1993 the original showboat was closed. This was after 36 seasons of shows. The city felt it should be closed for renovation to update it a little bit. Unfortunately funds needed to be raised and before the renovations could be completed tragedy struck. In winter of 2000 a fire started by a welding spark burned the boat to its hull.

A new showboat had to be built. The work was completed by July 2002. The Centennial Showboat seen on the river today is the 2002 version. The original boat is much older than the show though. The actual boat was commissioned in 1899 by General John Newton. It was a 175 foot paddle wheeler used as a court house during some of its history. History states that four US presidents visited the boat.

Anyone wishing to see a show has that option Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8pm for $30. Tuesday through Thursday evening shows are also at 8pm, but for $27, and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Matinees at 2:30pm are $25. They offer discounts for groups and those with certain IDs. Students are able to get in for $25. There are also dinner shows on the weekends which cost a little more than the regular theatre show.

Since the Minnesota Centennial Showboat is a theater the productions will vary, but most often they have to do with the 1800's right around the time the city was formed. One gets to see what life could have been like in the Old West. The Players producing the show are a unique troupe because they are all University Students. This means the players will change as students move on and graduate.

Part of the theater offers workshops for school aged children. Youths who think they are interested in becoming actors or just want to try out the theater can be involved in the productions. They get to learn about the history of the theater, a little bit on how to act and much more in the programs.