The Mary T. and James J. Hill Library Foundation will continue to honor the original intent of the gift given to the City of Saint Paul. The iconic entrepreneur James J. Hill had a vision to provide the people of Minnesota with a Reference Library to support and grow cultural and economic development in the state. The James J. Hill Reference Library opened its doors in 1921. In 2013 the name was changed to James J. Hill Center to more fully represent the services and programs we provide beyond our Reference Library. The Hills’ mission honors the legacy of its founder. Although the library discontinued services in 2019, the newly formed foundation will preserve the legacy of the institution.