Top Museums to Explore in Minneapolis

Culture, art, history, science, and quirky niche topics: the museum scene in Minneapolis covers all the bases. With collections to appeal to every kind of curious mind, the city’s museums provide an enriching experience with far less noise than big city favorites.

Contemporary collections from rising artists coexist with long-established collections of world-renowned artifacts. Culture enthusiasts can discover centuries past, unravel Minneapolis’ rich migrant history, and witness the latest modern creations at these 10 top museums.

Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)

Best museum for a broad collection of artworks

Like a stateside version of the Louvre without the selfie-snapping crowds, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (known as the Mia) boasts more than 90,000 works of art spanning approximately 5,000 years of history. While exhibitions rotate regularly, staple works from the collection remain on display year-round. Visitors can explore cultural objects from six continents, including contemporary works, textiles, sculptures, paintings, photography, prints, and drawings.

The collection isn’t the only impressive aspect of the Mia. The museum resides in a stately, neoclassical building with sturdy white columns, designed by the esteemed New York architecture firm, McKim, Mead & White, in 1915. Even a brief walkthrough will transport you into a completely different frame of mind.

Walker Art Center

Best museum for modern art and social events

It’s not every day that you see a gigantic blue rooster in front of a gleaming city skyline. However, at the Walker Art Center, that’s just part of the view from the garden. This premier art museum is a spectacular place to browse contemporary works of art, and creativity flows into the neighboring Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, a beautiful park adorned with stunning art.

In addition to the garden and galleries, the museum offers an impressive program of live performances, movie screenings, and educational activities. Whether you prefer a traditional string quartet or something more avant-garde like offbeat performance art; it’s all happening at the Walker.

Mill City Museum

Best museum for learning the history of Minneapolis

Set against the city’s shimmering skyline, along one of the most iconic stretches of the Mississippi River, the Mill City Museum occupies the ruins of a historic former flour mill dating back to 1880. The convergence of history, architecture, and art provides a fascinating introduction to Minneapolis’ early years and the city’s industrial foundation. The museum’s eight floors are accessible via the mill’s freight elevator, adding to the time-travel experience. An observation deck on the 9th floor overlooks the river.

In addition to relics from the past, artworks from local creatives are dotted throughout the museum, including murals, mixed media works, and sculptures. A visit to the Mill City Museum pairs well with a stroll across the Stone Arch Bridge, a former railroad bridge-turned-pedestrian walkway that connects downtown with the East Bank neighborhood.

Foshay Museum and Observatory

Best museum for architecture and skyline views

Spanning 32 stories and soaring 447ft into the sky over Minneapolis, the Foshay Museum and Observatory offers an impressive experience. Situated in the heart of downtown, this tower was constructed in 1929 and stood as the tallest building in the Midwest for 48 years. Although modern skyscrapers have since surpassed it, the Foshay remains a critical part of downtown Minneapolis’s identity.

The tower’s creator, Wilbur Foshay, was a successful businessman who made his fortune through a array of utility companies. A visit to the museum provides an in-depth look at his story and the creation of this local landmark. Views from the observation deck can stretch for 30 miles on a clear day – akin to the Eiffel Tower of Minnesota.

Somali Museum of Minnesota

Best museum for understanding America’s diverse history

Located on Lake Street in south Minneapolis, the Somali Museum of Minnesota is North America’s first and only museum dedicated entirely to Somali culture. With over 700 traditional artifacts from Somalia, along with modern artworks by contemporary Somali artists, it offers a rich, engaging experience filled with regular community events.

Many Somali individuals emigrated to Minnesota during the 1980s, with even larger numbers arriving in the early 1990s amid Somalia’s civil war. Consequently, Minnesota now hosts the largest Somali-American population in the U.S., thanks, in part, to the work of local volunteer resettlement agencies.

This museum connects individuals of Somali heritage with their culture while providing educational opportunities for those from different backgrounds, promoting cross-cultural understanding. When in the area, consider sampling a traditional Somali meal at the Midtown Global Market or Karmel Mall, two indoor marketplaces bustling with dining options.

Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery

Best museum for Black heritage, art, and culture

The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery serves as a vital space for learning about Black history, culture, and art. This north Minneapolis museum is entirely volunteer-run and hosts engagements like open mics, group discussions, and hands-on art sessions.

While exhibitions rotate, a permanent display dedicated to early African-American history in Minnesota is a highlight. This exhibition deeply explores the history of the Great Migration and the fight for freedom in the mid-1900s, offering more informative insights than most textbooks. Eye-opening rotating exhibitions address topics such as systemic racism with modern works from Black artists.

Weisman Art Museum

Best museum for cutting-edge architecture and local artworks

From the outside, the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum resembles an imaginative blend of a spaceship and a fairytale castle adorned with shiny chrome. Towering and abstract in its deconstructivist design, Frank Gehry designed the building in 1992, and the inside offers even more surprises.

Contemporary artworks, early 20th-century pieces, and mixed media projects rotate throughout the galleries, featuring everything from traditional Korean furniture to vibrant murals. Located on the UMN campus with a stunning view of the Mississippi River, getting there means joining the bustle of students crossing the Washington Avenue Bridge.

Minnesota Children’s Museum

Best museum for families

Situated in St. Paul, Minneapolis’ twin city, the Minnesota Children’s Museum is just a 15-minute drive from downtown. This children’s museum is perfect for families with kids in tow, and anyone else who loves playful and whimsical exhibits delving into art, science, nature, and interactive activities.

Exhibits are designed to engage, featuring highlights like a four-story climber with a spiral slide, an entire pretend town, and a laser maze. With three floors of interactive educational entertainment, kids have plenty to discover, and toddlers under one year can enter for free. Plan to dedicate a full day to your visit.

American Swedish Institute

Best museum for all things Swedish

Featuring an art gallery, a Nordic-style café, a castle-like mansion from 1904, and a modern cultural center, the American Swedish Institute goes beyond the traditional museum experience. Exhibits range from wooden crafts and folk art to photography, Nordic design, and architecture.

The Turnblad Mansion, with its hand-carved gargoyles and 33 exquisitely decorated rooms, looks like it stepped out of a Scandinavian fairy tale. Tiled wood-burning stoves known as kakelugnar – imported from Sweden – are scattered throughout the mansion.

A visit to the American Swedish Institute provides a taste of Europe without the jet lag. The museum celebrates the traditional roots of Swedish-origin communities in Minnesota, offering an intriguing look at how Scandinavian and American cultures have blended over the past century.

Minnesota Streetcar Museum

Best museum for a sunny day

Winding through a wooded area of southwest Minneapolis, the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line feels suspended in time. With its nostalgic fleet of bright yellow streetcars, the Minnesota Streetcar Museum showcases life in Minneapolis during the 1950s, when locals used trolleys for commuting to work and school.

This experience contrasts starkly with the city’s sleek modern Light Rail system, contributing to its charm. Ideally, visit on a sunny day to enjoy the lakeside breeze while riding the trolleys, and afterwards, explore Linden Hills, which captures the essence of ‘old Minneapolis’ charm.

The museum, located inside the old streetcar station, features photographs and documents that recount the history of electric railways in Minnesota. A trolley ride between two of the city’s most famous lakes, Bde Maka Ska (Lake White Earth in the Dakota language) and Lake Harriet, takes about 15 minutes. While the trolleys aren’t wheelchair accessible, the museum itself is.