Before elegant Victorian mansions and the gleaming state capitol building, Minnesota's capital city had a considerably less dignified name: Pig's Eye. The settlement that would become St. Paul spent its early years named after a one-eyed French-Canadian bootlegger whose tavern became the social center of frontier life.

Pierre Parrant arrived in the area around 1838, a retired fur trader with a colorful past and a notable facial feature—he was blind in one eye, earning him the nickname "Pig's Eye." He set up shop at Fountain Cave on the east bank of the Mississippi River, establishing what locals called a "whiskey seller's cabin." This wasn't just any tavern—it became wildly popular with the surrounding community, creating a rough-and-tumble gathering place that settlers affectionately (or perhaps ironically) dubbed "Pig's Eye Pandemonium."

As more people settled near Parrant's establishment, the entire area became known as Pig's Eye Landing. The name stuck for several years, appearing on maps and in correspondence. Imagine telling people you lived in Pig's Eye, Minnesota—it certainly would have made for memorable introductions.

A Priest Changes Everything

In 1841, Father Lucien Galtier arrived from France and saw an opportunity to bring some respectability to the settlement. He built a log chapel on the bluffs above the landing and dedicated it to Saint Paul the Apostle. Not finding "Pig's Eye" particularly suitable for a house of worship, Father Galtier began using "St. Paul" in official documents.

Legend has it that Galtier declared: "Pig's Eye, converted thou shalt be, like Saul; Arise, and be, henceforth, Saint Paul!" While historians debate whether he actually uttered those specific words, the story has become part of the city's folklore. What's certain is that the chapel's name gradually spread to the landing below, and eventually to the entire settlement.

From Bootlegger to State Capital

The transformation was complete by 1849 when the Minnesota Territory was formalized and St. Paul became its capital. The city that began as a disreputable tavern settlement evolved into one of the Midwest's most important urban centers.

Today, St. Paul embraces its quirky origins. Pig's Eye Brewing Company commemorates the city's founder, and local historians delight in sharing the story of how Minnesota's dignified capital started life named after a one-eyed whiskey peddler. Pierre Parrant himself was eventually evicted from his cave dwelling, but his legacy—and his nickname—live on in the city's colorful history.

So the next time you visit St. Paul's beautiful Cathedral or walk through its historic neighborhoods, remember: you're standing in what was once Pig's Eye Landing, where the social scene revolved around a cave-dwelling bootlegger's tavern. It's proof that even state capitals can have humble—and hilariously named—beginnings.

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