Minneapolis & St. Paul Attractions
Twin City Museums & Cultural Highlights for Your Travel in Minnesota
Visitors to Minneapolis and St. Paul are surprised by the variety of cultural offerings! Here are some of the cultural highlights of the Twin Cities for you to explore.
Looking for culture in the Midwest? Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota-- the Twin Cities- are an outstanding place to find fabulous museums, historical tours and buildings, and just a bit of Minnesota kitsch, like the Mary Tyler Moore statue on Nicollet Mall. If you're a newcomer to the Twin Cities, you may not know where to start, so here are some of the highlights of the cultural attractions in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. (1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis). Located just to the east of downtown Minneapolis, the Walker Art Center is a modern art museum with over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space, including a growing collection of digital art. The museum is best known for its sculpture garden, a beautifully landscaped collection of unique artwork surrounding an art conservatory. Minnesota newcomers have probably seen pictures of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture. Created by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, this fountain consists of a huge cherry sitting on a white plastic spoon and is the centerpiece of the sculpture garden.
The St. Anthony Main District. Located along the Mississippi River and just west of downtown, St. Anthony is the oldest area of Minneapolis. Visitors can visit the remains of the old Pillsbury A Mill that was built in 1881. Guided tours available, or visitors can take a walk across the 1.8 mile St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail along the Mississippi and the Stone Arch Bridge, and enjoy the view of St. Anthony Falls. For more information on the area's history, stop by the new Mill City Museum at 701 South 2nd Street.
The Guthrie Theater. (818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis). The Guthrie is Minneapolis' premiere theater venue. Previously located in the Walker Art Center, the stunning new Guthrie is now located on the west bank of the Mississippi River on the west side of downtown. It contains three theaters, including the old one that was used for years at the Walker. The modern, cobalt blue building offers spectacular views of St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge.
The Grand Hotel. (615 2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis). Love elegant hotels? The Grand Hotel has housed royals and celebrities alike in its $3500 a night Presidential Suite. Read more about the Grand Hotel and other luxury hotels in the Twin Cities.
The Mary Tyler Moore Statue. (Nicollet Avenue and Seventh Street, Minneapolis). This bronze statue depicts Mary throwing her hat up into the air, just like she did at the end of the opening credits. Stop by Basil's Restaurtant in the nearby IDS Tower and catch a glimpse of Mary's favorite table.
Science Museum of Minnesota. (120 W. Kellogg Blvd.. St. Paul). This interactive and thoroughly kid-friendly science museum opened its new digs on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul in 1999. Kids love the Human Body Gallery. A newly popular addition is the wacky but frightening exhibit of "questionable medical devices" that were used at various times to treat real ailments.
Minnesota History Center. (345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul). This beautiful building in downtown St. Paul houses Minnesota artifacts that reflect the lives of everyday people, as opposed to just the wealthy settlers. Kids will enjoy the "Visit Places" exhibit on transportation and will be thrilled with a climb through the replica grain elevator.
See also: Twin City Lakes and Cheap Eats in Minneapolis
