Discover real homes, real people and real ideas during the 17th annual Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2. Presented by the Minneapolis NRP, the 2004 Home Tour will feature 50 homes -- 37 in Minneapolis and 13 in Saint Paul -- and will include five neighborhood tours aimed at giving visitors a more in-depth look at the communities supporting these homes.

Because the Home Tour is a free, self-guided event, visitors can fulfill their individual desires by visiting vintage Queen Annes, hip downtown lofts, cozy bungalows and more. Whether you are looking for homes that have been creatively remodeled or for sale, the Home Tour has something for everyone. Last year more than 8,000 visitors made more than 40,000 visits in only 11 hours-demonstrating that the Home Tour remains the Twin Cities' biggest weekend city living showcase.

New to the event this year is a mini-tour of Minneapolis homes that have been historically preserved. The historic preservation tour will feature three homes that have been designated as historic or are eligible for such designation by either the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission or the National Register of Historic Places. Organizers of the mini-tour will be present at these homes to provide information on how homes can be sensitively maintained and renovated to respect the materials, craftsmanship and design characteristics appropriate for their style and era. Visit the official Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour Web site at www.msphometour.com for a sneak preview. Be sure to visit homes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 17, 32, 33 and 37 to see the physical impacts your NRP investments have made.

How do I participate?
Join us on Saturday, May 1, 2004, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 2, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Use the Home Tour Guide, which includes a description and address of each home, and a map showing home locations, to select the homes you wish to visit. Tour as many, or as few, of the 50 homes as you desire. Multiple visits are encouraged. Home Tour Guides will be available at all Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public Libraries beginning Friday, April 16 and at all Home Tour homes during the weekend of the tour. Home Tour Guides will also be inserted in the Saturday, April 24 issue of the StarTribune and delivered to all Minneapolis subscribers. Visit the official Home Tour Web site at www.msphometour.com or call 612-673-5140 for more information. Each home on the tour is identified with a Home Tour street sign. The event will take place regardless of weather conditions. Check out the Home Tour and see why Twin Cities neighborhoods are beaming with pride!

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