AAHM 2016 Museums and Things to do

Mill City Museum

In 1880, the flour mill that now houses the Mill City Museum was declared “The World’s Largest Flour Mill,” but in 1991, after years of disuse, was nearly destroyed by a fire. Preserving the original structure – both what was left standing and the ruins from the fire – the museum opened in 2001. Documenting Minneapolis’s history as a milling center on the Mississippi, this museum is fun for kids and adults. $6 for children, $10 for seniors and students, $12 for general admission.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday Noon – 5:00 pm

Location: 704 South 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55401

Walker Art Museum & Sculpture Garden

The Walker is a large, multidisciplinary contemporary art museum and is located next to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Sculpture Garden is free and features Minneapolis’s iconic cherry sculpture.

Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm; Thursday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Location: 1750 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Bakken Museum

In 1981, Earl Bakken, co-founder of Medtronic, established his collection of electrical books and artifacts as a public museum in a mansion on Lake Calhoun. Current exhibits range from how electricity works in the human body to Ben Franklin’s Electricity Party. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $8 for general admission.

Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Location:3537 Zenith Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55416

Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie was founded in 1963 by Sir. Tyrone Guthrie and was renovated fully in 2006 with new performance spaces and incredible public viewing areas of the Mississippi River. Even if you don’t have time to catch a show, the views from the “Endless Bridge” are worth a visit.

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm (performance days) / 8:00 am – 8:00 pm (non-performance days); Monday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Location: 18 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55415

Stone Arch Bridge

The Stone Arch Bridge, a pedestrian bridge built in 1883, connects downtown Minneapolis to Northeast Minneapolis and provides excellent views of the Mississippi River, the Guthrie Theater and Gold Medal Park, and the ruins of several 19th-century flour mills.

Museums & Special Collections at the University of Minnesota

Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine

Begun in the 1950s, the Wangensteen Library holds more than 80,000 rare volumes related to biology, medicine, and associated sciences. The majority of the collection falls between 1480 and 1930 and is particularly strong in anatomy, surgery, botany, mycology, and natural history. This year’s exhibit is called Bodies and Spirits: Health and the History of Fermentation and Distillation. The library is located on the 5th floor of Diehl Hall on the east bank.

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm; Closed Weekends

Location: 505 Essex St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

James Ford Bell Library

One of the University’s special collections, the James Ford Bell Library features an extremely well-curated collection of early maps including medieval portolan charts and Matteo Ricci’s 1602 Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the Earth, the oldest surviving map in Chinese to show the Americas and the only copy of this map in the United States. The collection also features other travel-related documents such as travel narratives and ship’s logs. The University of Minnesota has one of the world’s largest Arthur Conan Doyle collections, and the Bell library’s rotating exhibit space is also home to a full-scale reproduction of Sherlock Holmes’s study. The library is on the west bank of the University on the 5th floor of Wilson Library.

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm; Closed Weekends

Location: Meredith Wilson Library, 309 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 5545

Bell Museum of Natural History

The Bell Museum of Natural History is on the university’s east bank and costs $5 for students and $8 for adults. The museum was founded in 1872 and contains rotating exhibits, dioramas of local flora and fauna, and interactive exhibits.

Hours: Monday – Friday  9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Saturday  10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday  Noon –5:00 pm

Location: 10 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Weisman Art Museum

Overlooking the Mississippi on the university’s east bank, this striking museum was designed by Frank Gehry. A free museum, the collection consists largely of early 20th century American art as well as contemporary art and a large ceramics collection. This is a teaching museum and frequently has new exhibits.  

Hours: Closed Mondays; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Wednesday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm; Saturday, Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Location: 333 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Museum of Russian Art

During AAHM, The Museum of Russian Art will have an exhibit on Masterpieces of the 20th Century: Russian Realist Tradition.

Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Location: 5500 Stevens Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN  55419

American Swedish Institute

The American Swedish Institute offers exhibits and programming that celebrates Swedish heritage. Their current exhibit during AAHM is “The Watercolor World of Lars Lerin.” FIKA, ASI’s cafe, is an innovative restaurant featuring local ingredients and traditional recipes.

Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday noon – 5:00 pm; Wednesday noon – 8:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday noon – 5:00 pm; Monday – closed

Location: 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Science Museum of Minnesota

“Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs” will be at the Science Museum during AAHM. It is a good idea to buy your tickets ahead of time.

Hours: Monday – Closed; Tuesday, Wednesday & Sunday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm; Thursday – Saturday 9:30 am – 9:00 pm

Location: 120 W. Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102

James J. Hill House

The James J. Hill House is the imposing stone home-turned-museum of James. J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway. During AAHM, “Power Couples: Selections from the Permanent Collection” will be open at the Hill House.

Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Location: 240 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55102

Somali Museum of Minnesota

The Somali Museum of Minnesota is a vital part of maintaining Mogadishu’s scattered historical artifacts. The museum is also “the home of Somali arts in Minnesota.”

Hours: Tuesday and Friday 3:00 – 7:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 pm; Or by appointment (612-234-1625)

Location: 1516 East Lake Street, Suite 11, Minneapolis, MN  55407

Wells Fargo History Museum

Stop in for a free visit to see this museum’s 1863 stagecoach and to learn more about Wells Fargo’s early history!

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Location: Wells Fargo Center-Skyway Level, 6th & Marquette, MAC N9305-023, Minneapolis, MN  55402

Stone Arch Bridge

The Stone Arch Bridge, a pedestrian bridge built in 1883, connects downtown Minneapolis to Northeast Minneapolis and provides excellent views of the Mississippi River, the Guthrie Theater and Gold Medal Park, and the ruins of several 19th-century flour mills.

Things to do

Cuban Film Festival – April 28

The Cuban Film Festival, which runs from February through the end of March, will have a showing on April 28 at the St. Anthony Main Theatre. Tickets are $6 and the show is at 7pm.

Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie was founded in 1963 by Sir. Tyrone Guthrie and was renovated fully in 2006 with new performance spaces and incredible public viewing areas of the Mississippi River. Even if you don’t have time to catch a show, the views from the “Endless Bridge” are worth a visit. During AAHM, the Guthrie will be showing “Harvey.” For tickets and more information, click here.

Penumbra Theater

The Penumbra Theater in St. Paul has showings of “Sunset Baby” on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday during AAHM. Find out more and buy tickets here.

Theater in the Round

Theater in the Round will be showing “The House of Blue Leaves” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during AAHM. Find out more and buy tickets here.

New Century Theater

The New Century Theater is showing Tony-nominated Leap of Faith on April 29 and 30 and May 1. Click here for tickets and more information.

The State Theater

Dream Theater, an American progressive and rock band, will be at the State Theater on May 1. Click here for more info.  

Phoenix Theater

“We Just Clicked,” a festival of short plays about online dating, is playing at the Phoenix Theater during AAHM. Click here for more information.

Brave New Workshop

Brave New Workshop, a Twin Cities center for comedy and improv, will be showing “The Working Dead” during AAHM. For tickets and more information, click here.

Huge Improv Theater

On April 28, Huge has their weekly “Space Jam” (an improv jam). On April 29, take in one, two or three shows at Huge: “LIfe of the Room,” “Kings,” and “Bearded Men with Diorama.” There are three more shows are on April 30: “Neutrino,” “The Mess,” “We Have Cats with GARY.” Click here for the full calendar, info, and ticketing.

Dakota Jazz Club

The Dakota Jazz Club is also on our restaurant page, but there are often evening concerts that are ticketed. Emily West is performing on April 28, and April 29 is Guitar Night. David Linley will be performing on May 1. For calendar, more information and ticketing, click here.

First Avenue

First Ave is a renowned music venue in the Twin Cities. During AAHM, you can check out shows by J Boog, Umphrey’s McGee, Coasts, Del the Funky Homosapien, Låpsley, Matt Andersen & The Bona Fide, and White Denim. Find more information and tickets here.

MN Twins

The Minnesota Twins will be playing the Detroit Tigers during AAHM. Buy tickets here.