Join Us On Any of our Tours
Our public tours are always changing with new stories and new venues to visit. If you haven't taken a tour, come join us. If you have taken a tour, come back again, as the story is always engaging and evolving! Tour formats include walking, bus or trolley
See tour descriptions below.
Schedule a Private Tour!
Contact us for your next group outing, party, or just for fun! Any of our walking and bus tours listed below can be chosen for a private tour for a minimum of 6 people for walking and 20 people for bus tours. If you want a more general city sampler tour, we can put that together too. We limit the walking tours to maximum of 20 guests. If there are more, we can add another guide and split the group into two tours to accommodate 40. If the group is more than 40, we can add a third guide to accommodate up to 60.
Gangsterland Tour of St. Paul - See the same St. Paul streets frequented by famous gangsters of the 1930’s! Learn why St. Paul rolled out the red carpet for the likes of John Dillinger, the Barker brothers, Baby Face Nelson and many more. Find out why Minnesota was so important to Prohibition and the bootlegging industry. You’ll enjoy looking at beautiful buildings while learning about gangsters and a lot of history about St. Paul along way. In case of heavy rain or in the winter, the walking tour version is conducted in St. Paul's extensive skyway system.
Walking tour is approximately 1.2 miles - 90 minutes. Bus tour is approximately 2 hours.
Walking and Bus Tours
Available as Walking Tour or Bus Tour:
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Gangsterland Tour of St. Paul
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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s St. Paul Roots
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Ghosts & Gables Haunted Summit Avenue Tour
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The Good, The Bad, The Irish
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St. Paul River Origins History Tour
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Minneapolis River Origins History Tour
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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s St. Paul Roots - One of America’s greatest writers, F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, a city he credited as a major influence on his writing. This entertaining tour weaves through the beautiful Summit Ave area where he grew up and published his first books. See many buildings where he lived and played. Meet some fascinating characters who became his lifelong friends - many of whom live on in his writings. Enjoy viewing the beautiful homes and mansions that make up the largest collection of preserved Victorian houses in the country. Much of the area has not changed since Fitzgerald walked the same streets.
Walking tour is approximately 2 miles - 2 hours.
Bus tour is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Ghosts & Gables Haunted Summit Ave Tour - Join your Victorian ghost guide for a relaxing stroll along Saint Paul's historic Summit Avenue, considered one of the most beautiful streets in the country. View the many stately Victorian mansions of this historic preservation district while hearing stories of the hauntings within that will perhaps give you a shiver, a tingle or a laugh. You’ll also learn some fun St. Paul history along the way.
Walking tour is approximately 1.2 miles - 90 minutes.
Bus tour is approximately 2 hours and covers more than Summit Ave.
The Good, the Bad, the Irish - Hear about the Irish legends who helped shape St. Paul: from godfathers to good guys! Hear how Irish mobster Dapper Dan Hogan set a dubious precedent, how Archbishop John Ireland and the Catholic church dramatically shaped the city, how police chief John O’Connor dealt with the city’s gangster problem. Also hear about some of the city's most famous Irish residents like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Madame Nina Clifford. In winter or heavy rain, the walking tour is conducted in St. Paul's skyway system.
Walking tour is approximately 1.5 miles - 90 minutes.
Bus Tour is approximately 2 hours.
St. Paul’s River Origins History Tour - Find out how the river and alcohol helped to found the city by accident! Learn the fascinating history of early residents who helped make the young city of St. Paul one of the fastest growing cities of the late 1800’s. You will also hear the history of several beautiful buildings including the historic Landmark Center, the St. Paul Hotel, the James. J. Hill library and many more. In winter or heavy rain, the walking tour is conducted in St. Paul's extensive skyway system.
Walking tour is approximately 1 mile - 90 minutes.
Bus Tour is approximately 2 hours.
Minneapolis River Origins History Tour - An easy stroll along the Mississippi through the mill district of Minneapolis to hear how Minneapolis was shaped by river. Hear interesting history as it pertains to the river: the Native Americans, the early settlers, the military, the lumberjacks, the mills, the politicians and the red light districts of old. What neighborhoods came first? What explosive events changed the landscape? Tour starts at the entrance to Mill Ruins Park at Portland and West River Parkway.
Walking tour is approximately 1.5 miles - 90 minutes.
Bus Tour is approximately 2 hours.
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Summit Avenue Walking Tour - Summit Avenue has the distinction of being the largest collection of preserved Victorian homes in the U.S.. Much of the area has not changed for well over a century. Enjoy viewing the architecture of the beautiful homes and mansions in this historic preservation district. Learn the fascinating history of some of its early residents, movers and shakers, including railroad baron James. J. Hill.
Approximately 90 minutes, 1.5 miles
Walking Only Tours
Available as Walking Only Tours (6 guest minimum):
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Summit Avenue Walking Tour
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Haunted Rice Park Walking Tour
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Gangsterland II - The Next Chapter
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Secrets of the Union Depot
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Union Depot Ghost Tour
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Lowertown Walking Tour
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Tasting Tour of the Historic Hamm’s Brewery
Haunted Rice Park Walking Tour - Beautiful Rice Park is older than Central Park in New York City - and it's surrounded by several haunted buildings! Join your entertaining ghost guide with thrilling tales of hauntings designed to give you a bit of a tingle while also learning some interesting history of our capital city on an easy one mile stroll. In winter or heavy rain, this tour is conducted in St. Paul's extensive skyway system.
Approximately 90 minutes, 1 mile
Gangsterland II - The Next Chapter - Conveniently begins and ends at The Lexington Restaurant! Exciting stories about public enemies who wreaked havoc in the Grand Avenue neighborhood! See where John Dillinger had a shootout with the FBI, where the Karpis-Barker gang kidnapped banker Ed Bremer and much more! Tour has an option to add a summer cocktail sampling at The Lexington when available. (Material for this tour is included in the bus tour version of the Gangsterland tour)
Approximately 90 minutes, 1.5 miles
Secrets of the Union Depot - St. Paul’s elegant Union Depot was the dream of railroad baron James J. Hill and was the largest construction project of the 20th century in St. Paul. Hear how the railroads literally shaped the city of St Paul and about the fiery past that led to the depot’s creation. Learn why it was important to gangsters and prohibitionists. Includes visits to some areas not open to the public. The tour is almost entirely inside the Union Depot and will happen rain or shine.
Approximately 75 minutes.
Union Depot Ghost Tour - Saint Paul's iconic railroad station has ghosts! Join CynCity for a walking tour that will give you a few chills and a bit history too. The tour includes some behind-the-scenes areas and steps outside to hear some ghost stories across the Lowertown neighborhood! In case of weather, the entire tour can be done from inside the Union Depot.
Approximately 90 minutes
Lowertown Walking Tour - Starting at the iconic Union Depot, hear the history of Lowertown and how its movers and shakers like James J. Hill literally shaped St. Paul into the city it is today. See beautifully preserved 1800’s warehouses designed by renowned architects Cass Gilbert, Clarence Johnston along with more modern buildings like beautiful CHS Field
Approximately 90 minutes, one mile
Tasting Tour of the Historic Hamm’s Brewery - Hear the history of how Theodore Hamm accidentally inherited a brewery and founded one of St. Paul’s most iconic businesses. Tour parts of the old Hamm’s Brewery while hearing its history. Go behind the scenes at St. Paul Brewing to get a lesson on brewing beer and then go behind the scenes at 11 Wells Distillery to learn about making spirits. Along the way we play some fun trivia games! Tour includes tasting samples from both locations.
Approximately 1.25 hours with tastings
Bus Only Tours
Available as Bus Tour only (20 Guest minimum):
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Mobsterland Minneapolis
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Baseball and That Ain’t All!
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Twin Cities River Origins History Tour
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Holiday Lights Bus Tour
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Lights & Frights Bus Tour
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Haunted Dayton’s Bluff Trolley
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Tour The Women of Gangsterland!
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Gangsterland & St. Paul City Tour Combo
Mobsterland Minneapolis - Hear the fascinating story of how prohibition in the 1920’s and 30’s propelled Minneapolis to form some of the most powerful mobs in the country. Mob bosses like “Kid Cann” Blumenfeld and Irish godfather Tommy Banks controlled illegal booze, vice and gambling in the Mill City for decades through murder, mayhem and manipulation. Find out why being a news editors, was a deadly occupation. See where the infamous Karpis/Barker gang committed their first of many bank robberies and where the city’s most successful madame ran her organization.
Approximately 2 hours
Baseball and That Ain’t All! - This tour explores the quirky side of Minnesota sports history of sports including baseball! Put on your favorite sports jersey and join your CynCity tour guides to discover funny and unique sports stories, play some sports trivia …and quench your thirst with a beer! Begins and ends at St. Paul Brewing in the old Hamm’s Brewery.
Approximately 2 hours
The Twin Cities River Origins History Tour - this bus tour relates the fascinating history of how both St. Paul and Minneapolis owe their existence to the Mississippi River. The tour includes many fun highlights including Harriet Island, St. Anthony Falls, Mills City Ruins, Fort Snelling Scenic Overlook and more. Please note: Minneapolis requires a permit for tour busses to use parkways. The fee ranges from $80 - $150 depending on the size of your bus. If you wish to avoid this fee, the tour can be modified to avoid parkways but would eliminate some sites.
Approximately 2 hours. 3 hour version also available
Holiday Lights Bus Tour - A delightful 2 hour excursion viewing some of the most dazzling and interesting holiday lights displays from St. Paul to Inver Grove Heights while hearing fun holiday trivia, stories and songs from your entertaining elf guides.
Approximately 2 hours
Lights & Frights Bus Tour - A perfect way to celebrate the season! CynCity takes you on a ride filled with beautiful holiday light displays interwoven with fun ghost stories. Also available as Lights, Frights & Flights to include tastings at a local brewery.
Approximately 2 hours
Haunted Dayton’s Bluff Trolley Tour - Head on over to the east side of St. Paul start your tour at the old Hamm’s Brewery. Board a comfortable trolley to hear haunted stories of Dayton’s Bluff area including an abandoned boxing gym, Mounds theater, the old Hamm’s mansion and much more! The tour ends with tastings of spirits behind the scenes at 11 Wells Distillery.
Approximately 90 minutes with tour & tasting
The Women of Gangsterland! - Women gained the right to vote August 20, 1920 - right at the start of Prohibition! This entertaining tour with twist proves crime in the St. Paul gangster era wasn’t just for men by shining a spotlight on the women - including Edna Murray the Kissing Bandit of the Karpis/ Barker Gang, Madame Nina Clifford, Katherine Kelly (wife of Machine Gun Kelly), Ma Barker and more! The tour also celebrates a few good gals on the right side of the law too.
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Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Gangsterland & St. Paul City Tour Combo - Take a tour of Minnesota’s capital city on a comfortable motor coach to learn why St. Paul rolled out the red carpet for famous gangsters of the 1930’s! See where John Dillinger had a shoot out with the FBI, The house were Ma Barker lived, the sites of famous kidnappings and more. Along the way you will also learn a lot of history about St. Paul while enjoy looking at beautiful sights such as Rice Park, Summit Ave Historic preservation district (the longest stretch of preserved Victorian homes in the country), the State Capital, views of the Mississippi River, the iconic St. Paul Cathedral and more.
Approximately 2 hours
3 hour version also available
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Walking Tours require a minimum of 6 tickets.
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Step on Bus Tour guide when the client provides the bus requires a minimum of 20 guests.
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Step on Bus Tour guide when CynCity provides the bus requires a minimum of 20 guests.