The exterior of 516 Summit Ave., where the author Sinclair Lewis lived in 1917-18. The St. Paul mansion, known as the William Butler House, has been listed for sale, with an asking price of $1.1 million. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

The formal dining room in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

The sunroom in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

The back yard of 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

The back exterior of 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)



The entry in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

The den in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

The living room in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

The recreation room in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

A staircase in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)



The kitchen in 516 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Edina Realty)

Nearly a century ago, one of the nation’s most celebrated authors was resting his head in an Italian Renaissance mansion on Summit Avenue.

And now you can, too — if you have $1.1 million to spare.

The house where Sinclair Lewis lived and wrote in 1917-18 has been listed for sale. The yellow brick, 4,800-square-foot house at 516 Summit Ave. hit the market last month and should have special appeal to those interested in one of St. Paul’s most famous residents, said real estate agent Mary Hardy. Related Articles Minneapolis and St. Paul to add 70 electric car charging stations

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In another connection to local history, the house was built by William Butler of Butler Brothers Construction — the company that oversaw construction of the Minnesota State Capitol. It was owned by the Butler family for decades and is commonly known as the William Butler House.

“Nice big slabs of marble, brick — it’s just as solid as a house could be,” Hardy said. “And the architectural elements of it are meticulously done.”

Also of note: the home’s deep lot, which has “some of the most unusual oak trees,” Hardy said. “The branches actually come down and touch the ground,” she said. “Beautiful yard. It’s very, very private.”

The house, built in 1914, features four bedrooms and five baths. There are marble terraces, five fireplaces, a finished basement and a restored billiards room.

“For a Summit Avenue mansion, it’s not a massive house; it’s just beautifully proportioned,” Hardy said.

Lewis was reportedly writing a book on James J. Hill, another of Summit Avenue’s famous residents, while living in the house. The book was never published. Not long after, in 1920, the novel that made him famous — “Main Street” — was released.

Ten years and several books later, he became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The home’s listing can be found here. Property records show it last sold in January 2013 for $1.05 million.