On a rainy day, the Minnesota History Center is the perfect place to spend hours exploring over 44,000 sq. ft. of exhibits and a few thousand of the institution's 44 million items. First-time visitors should make a beeline for the "Open House" exhibit. Presented as a century-plus history of St. Paul as told through one modest house, visitors can learn about the various inhabitants who lived here by taking a seat at their dining room table, listening to memories, trying on their work uniforms, and looking out their living room windows to see the changing urban texture of this East Side neighborhood. Moving on, the "Then Now Wow" exhibit presents Minnesota state history via video screens and hands-on activities that take folks on a Twin Cities streetcar, an Iron Range mine, and the fur trade as told via the mind of a beaver, which is curious and fascinating. A "History Players" initiative brings live character actors out on weekends and holidays to wander around the museum interacting with patrons. On any given visit, you might encounter the French cartographer Joseph Nicollet, or Toni Stone, the first woman to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues. Before stopping in, visitors should also check out the "Upcoming Events" area on the center's website. An architecture crawl, a historic walking tour of pubs, or a throwback fashion show may catch your attention. As an experience, and a way to take in local history while enjoying a meditative moment, the Minnesota History Center is topnotch.
Minneapolis and St. Paul
Travel Guide
Minneapolis and St. Paul› Attraction
Minnesota History Center
345 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Downtown St. Paul
Hours
Tues 10am–8pm, Wed–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm, also open holiday Mons 10am–5pm
Transportation
Metro Transit: Bus #16, 21, and 94
Phone
651/296-6126
Prices
Admission $11 adults, $9 seniors (65 and up), $9 college students and active military with valid ID, $6 children (6–17), under 6 free; also free to all Tues 5–8pm
Web site
Minnesota History Center
Map
345 W. Kellogg Blvd. Minneapolis and St. PaulNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.