Minneapolis and St. Paul (most commonly known as the Twin Cities) are revered for their abundance of free activities, including countless city parks, a beautiful zoo, and, of course, several art museums. Art plays a vital role in our lives here the Twin Cities, whether it’s live music at First Avenue or artist cooperative lofts in Lowertown. We’re blessed to have not one, not two, but three free museums in Minneapolis and St. Paul, most notably the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
FREE MUSEUMS IN MINNEAPOLIS WORTH REVISITING
There are countless free attractions in the Twin Cities, including the Minnesota State Capitol, Como Park Zoo, Stone Arch Bridge, Summit Avenue, and Lake of the Isles. But there’s nothing more relaxing and thought-provoking than gracefully observing art from all corners of the globe in a quiet space. Minnestay has a fleet of vacation rentals in North Loop, on Lake Minnetonka, and in the posh neighborhood of Edina, many of which are less than ten minutes from these three free museums in Minneapolis. So, you’ll always be a short drive from an immersive day in our lively city.
MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
Minnesota’s premier free attraction remains the Minneapolis Institute of Art, ideally wedged in-between Downtown and Uptown. With nearly 100,000 works of art that originate from all seven continents, true aesthetes can spend an entire day inside this sprawling, three-floor palace and the ideal artists’s escape. Today, the Minneapolis Institute of Art spans near 500,000 square feet—and free street parking is around nearly every corner! The art itself ranges from dazzling contemporary art to jaw-dropping prehistoric objects. On the third floor, you’ll stumble upon original paintings from the likes of Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. Oh, and don’t bypass the Institute’s collection of discoveries from the Far East before exiting the museum. Every quarter, the Institute installs a new featured exhibit, which requires an entrance fee and is announced years in advance. Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro recently wowed art connoisseurs with his monster exhibit.
WEISMAN ART MUSEUM
It’s not often that you come across a misshapen art museum with an exterior that’s entirely made of curving, angular steel sheets. The gleaming Weisman Art Museum rests atop a Mississippi River bluff on the University of Minnesota campus, home to one of the largest student populations in the country. There are many impressive structures located on the Twin Cities campus, including Northrop Memorial Auditorium and TCF Bank Stadium, but Weisman is in a category all by itself. Much of the collections inside Weisman are categorized as “modern art,” but there’s certainly something for every aesthete here at one of the most popular free museums in Minneapolis. Three of the most famous artists featured inside this eye-popping Frank Gehry-designed building include Georgia O’Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, and Roy Lichtenstein.
MINNEAPOLIS SCULPTURE GARDEN
While the spectacular Walker Art Center does cost $15 for non-members, it’s exquisite on-site sculpture garden is entirely free to the public. By now, you likely know all about the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden’s famous Spoonbridge and Cherry, but this newly-renovated and revamped space is full of surprises. Locals and travelers alike love posing inside the two-way mirror hedge or beneath Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE sculpture, made entirely of painted steel. The sculpture garden is also a short stroll from many highly-praised Loring Park restaurants, such as Café and Bar Lurcat, 4 Bells, and P.S. Steak.
A QUINTESSENTIAL MINNESOTA LAKE HOUSE RENTAL
During the summertime, one of the most sought-after locations in the Twin Cities is Lake Minnetonka, made famous by the likes of Prince, Mick Jagger, and Bonnie Raitt. And thankfully for you, Minnestay has a variety of lavish Lake Minnetonka house rentals that range in size, style, and price. This iconic lake is approximately 20 miles west of our favorite free museums in Minneapolis as well as a wide variety of prominent attractions, including the Mall of America, Canterbury Park, and Uptown Minneapolis. To learn more about our many vacation rentals and several other nearby Minnesota art galleries, please give us a call today at 612-216-5511.
