Main Street History: Stillwater's Islamic Revival-Style Hall

STILLWATER, MN — Of the dozens of historic properties located in Stillwater, perhaps none are more stunning than William Sauntry's "Moorish palace."

Completed in the late 1800s, the recreation hall was built in Islamic Revival-style architecture. It originally featured a ballroom, a two-story reception hall, a bowling alley, and a swimming pool.

Design features include a ceiling mural, crystal chandeliers, 14-foot, 250-pound mirrors, and stencils of Arabic inscriptions, according to Stillwater's Heritage Preservation Commission.

The hall was built directly behind Sauntry's mansion, and the two structures were at one point physically connected through a second-level walkway.

According to oral history, Sauntry became inspired by the Alhambra Palace during a trip to Spain and felt compelled to design his estate after it.

Sauntry could afford to do this because of his enormous success in the St. Croix Valley lumber industry at the time. Born in New Brunswick, Canada, Sauntry came to Stillwater during the logging boom.

According to the National Register of Historic Places, the palace reflects Sauntrys' "whimsical nature" and "lavish entertaining style."

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