Museums & History
From the time of the Dakota Indians to its current state as Minnesota’s largest city, people have been enjoying all that the area has to offer for many hundreds of years. At Minneapolis’s museums, you can learn about local Minneapolis history or world history, view art, experience science & technology, and more, thanks to Minneapolis’s incredible selection of interactive museums and guided tours..
Things to Do
Science Museum of Minnesota
A nonprofit museum focused on topics such as natural history, science, technology, and mathematics
Mill City Museum
History of the flour industry told through interactive exhibits in the rebuilt ruins of an old mill.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
MIA inspires wonder with extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest wide-ranging art collections in the country.
American Swedish Institute
The castle-like Turnblad mansion, filled with intricate woodwork and stained glass, and Nelson Cultural Center.
Bakken Museum
A one-of-a-kind museum exploring the mysteries of our electrical world. Get inspired and develop a passion for science and its potential for social good by helping people explore the history and nature of electricity and magnetism.
Bell Museum of Natural History
Filled with creepy yet awesome taxidermy, exhibits about the environment, and neato dioramas created by Minnesota artist Francis Lee Jaques, the museum provides a much more intimate experience in some ways than going to the Science Museum.
Foshay Museum & Observation Deck
Historic Foshay Tower is a Minneapolis Icon. View the city’s skyline and surrounding neighborhood.
Hennepin History Museum
Hennepin History Museum is dedicated to bringing the diverse history of Hennepin County and its residents to life through exhibitions, library, collections, public events, and educational programs
Historic Fort Snelling
Built in the early 1820s, Historic Fort Snelling is a great place to learn about military history from before the Civil War through World War II, fur trade history, slavery in Minnesota, the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 and much more.
Minnesota Streetcar Museum
Living history museum offering rides on historic streetcars through the park & special themed trips.
James J Hill House
Visitors can take guided tours of this rugged stone mansion completed in 1891 for a railway magnate.
The Cathedral of St. Paul
A replica of St. Peter’s in Rome, this 1915 beaux arts church features a copper dome & rose window.
Museum of Russian Art
Based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, The Museum of Russian Art is the only one of its kind in North America. Through our ever changing exhibits and fresh arts and performance events, we will introduce you to the Russia you don’t know. Stop by. Be surprised.
Walker Art Center
One of the most-visited contemporary art museums in the United States. The Walker boasts a stunning facade, extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, ground-breaking live performances, and exemplary eats at its restaurant, Esker Grove.
Minnesota History Center
The Minnesota History Center hosts concerts, dance performances, lectures, and more in what is considered one of Minnesota’s finest public buildings. Home of the Minnesota Historical Society, this museum and library hosts tens of thousands of school children every year and is fun for the whole family.
