Wabasha Street Caves

In the 1920s and 1930s, St. Paul was known as a safe haven for many of the country's most notorious hoodlums. As long as a gangster didn't commit any crimes in St. Paul, he or she was free to come and go as they pleased. Many of the clubs and speakeasies in downtown were frequented by mobsters and used to establish bootlegging and gun running operations in the city. Along the bluffs of the Mississippi across the river from downtown sit a number of caves created by sand mining. Legend has it that the gangsters had set up supply and escape routes from their clubs through the sewer system and directly to the caves. The 45-minute tour of the caves is a fascinating mix of geological history, St. Paul history, and good old-fashioned fun. As numerous bullet holes will attest, the caves saw their share of criminal activity. Other tours are offered, such as Ghosts & Graves in October, and the Gangster Tour of St. Paul via motorcoach. Call for information. A nightclub with a big band theme is open every Thursday night in the summer.

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• Restaurant Type: Bars and lounges

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