I used to work across the street from the Foshay - was there about ~9yrs and never checked out this gem. I did go during Doors Open which is probably the busiest time to go. They have 1 elevator that goes straight up to the 30th floor. The details on the doors and around the building were amazing. Once you get up to the 30th floor there's a small museum where you can learn more about the tower. Then you take a few stairs up to get out to the observation deck. I will say it's pretty tight up there. Not ideal for big groups that can't separate. Each direction has a look out otherwise you can just look through the bars. For sure a cool place to visit at least once. read more

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I love learning about a building's history, so it's nice that the Foshay Tower has this small museum to share theirs. The building was built in 1929 and was modeled after the Washington Monument in DC. At the time it was the tallest building in the Midwest and it stayed that way for 48 years. Wilbur Foshay was an art student turned businessman who made his money with utility companies. Just six weeks after the building opened, the great depression started and the building was auctioned off. Foshay was accused and convicted of fraud, sent to prison, then later pardoned and let out early. The building was offices for many years, until 2006 when it was turned into a hotel. The observation deck at the top gives a great view of the city. You can walk a full 360° path around the 30th floor exterior. It is a little narrow, can be slippery in inclement weather, and needs some TLC (to remove graffiti etc). It is $18 to visit, or free if you are staying at the hotel. They've always charged a fee to ride the elevators: in 1929 the fee was $0.50. Adjusting for inflation that would be about $9.50 today. I think the $5-10 range would be more appropriate for a visit. It doesn't take too long to experience the whole thing, maybe an hour at most. read more

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Coming here was a great experience. My family and I had a great time not only learning about the history of the Foshay Tower, but also enjoying the amazing view of the city. read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - Buildings - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Foshay is located in the W hotel. You have to buy tickets using the QR code, select a time, then show the front desk and they will give you a key to go up to the 30th floor. We went up to the 30th floor, read some of the small museum stuff, and went outside. It was pretty underwhelming. I mean, the view was cool, but it's not like NYC or anything. It was ok. The view is actually better across the Stone Arch Bridge. But this was alright. I wouldn't recommend paying for this, not really worth it. read more

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I've lived in Minneapolis for 25 years and finally got around to visiting the Foshay observation deck. I get it, this isn't NYC or Chicago, but there is fun history to this building. The museum is filled with texts, artifacts, etc. The deck itself is open air FYI. You'll need to get an elevator pass from the front desk. You can buy a pass at a kiosk near the desk too. read more

Most amazing hotel I have ever been to. Observation deck was outstanding. Room was well decorated and comfortable as well. Nicely stocked honor bar. read more

Review from 7/2023 First, it is hard to find out where to go. We thought we got in the elevator and went to the 30th floor. Yeah, no, that is not correct! You need to go to the hotel front desk and pay for the tour, and you will receive a key card that will take you up. This was after some embarrassment of being in the elevator and going nowhere except floors for the hotel guests! This is well worth it! History that I was not aware of and artifacts on the building as well as some history of the builder....drama and it is all documented in a hidden corner. Hmm, wonder why? Guess you have to visit to see the details. Room keys from long ago and older items used in the hotel are neat to look at. The climb to the top is not very long, but it is worth it. The views are amazing, and the day was perfect. read more

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One of my favorites since the early 70's, the Foshay is a classic. It was the tallest building in Minneapolis until 1973 when the IDS center was built. There is a museum and observation deck at the top; both are open to the public. Free admission if you are guest of the W hotel. The history of how the building was designed and built is very interesting. Wilbur Foshay definitely had a vision and spared no expense in this project. The star-studded debut was attended by many famous people from all over the country. Alas, the great depression, stock market crash and poor business dealings were to be the downfall. Go ahead and take a ride in the original elevators and enjoy the view. read more

If you enjoy doing touristy things... put this museum & observation deck on your list. If you have about 30 minutes to kill, check it out. Please note, of the limited hours. Enter the W Foshay Hotel entrance then proceed to check in with hotel's guest service agent. Luckily, there wasn't a line so I able to pay the minimal fee then headed to the elevator to the museum. The museum is limited but has a lot of mementos of the era. The take the stairs tot he observation deck. The deck is open (not enclosed) with incredible views of the city on all four sides of the building. I'm glad I had checked it out and I would recommend this museum/ observation deck. read more

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I had a great time observing the city from the 30th floor! The building is now a hotel so see someone at the front desk (super friendly staff!) and ask about the observation floor. It's $10 per person. They will give you a key card to scan in the elevator and access the 30th floor. Everything is self guided, so once you get to the 30th floor you can walk around the museum and then walk up a flight of stairs (at this point it is not wheelchair accessible) to reach the observation deck. The mini museum wasn't too exciting in my opinion but there are a few neat items to view. This place must be a hidden gem of the city because on a nice Friday afternoon no one else was up there! I had the whole observation deck to myself :) read more

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A simple experience, but it gives you a nice chance to check out the Minneapolis skyline for a relatively low price. I was very pleased at how relaxed the experience was. You simply purchase your tickets and are given an elevator pass to get up to the top floor. Once there you have a chance to learn a bit about the history of the man and the company that founded the tower. Once you venture outside you have an opportunity to see the city from all four directions. We were visiting on a day when things weren't too crowded, but the passageways are somewhat narrow and this might mean it's a bit cramped on a busier day. read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - One of the views - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We went into the elevator and pressed the button for the 30th floor. Nothing happened. So, we went to the registration counter of the W Hotel. The staff person told us that the observation deck was not open due to repairs and they did not know when or if it would open again. However, their website indicates that the observation deck IS open - so this was a major disappointment having driven over 45 miles to walk on the observation deck. We were told that the museum was open, and that we could go with the other people on the elevator who also were headed to the museum. By the time we got there, the elevator doors had closed. So, we waited for the next one. So, we tried pressing the button again for the 30th floor. Nothing happened. We went back to the registration desk and the staff person gave us the plastic card we needed to access the floor. Why he didn't give it to us initially is beyond me. At any rate, we went up to the 30th floor and were shocked that when the elevator doors opened that it was completely dark and had no lighting. The people who had gone on the elevator before us said that they wanted to go back down because it was too dark and scary. We wanted to at least see something about the Foshay Tower, so we each used our cell phone flashlights to see the displays. The staff at the W did not mention that there was no lighting or light switches that we (nor could the previous guests) could find. The displays had interesting information that we didn't know about those involved with the construction of it or the court proceedings. It would have been substantially better had the lights been on so we could adequately see and read the displays. read more

I have visited this hidden gems a few times over the years. I liked that it's in a hotel. The museum as some history and I love the 360 degree deck. It's free! You will have to park on the street or in the hotel and pay for parking. I will always bring my guests here if I'm in town to show them the buildings. You can even see St. Paul's capitol building! read more

It was beautiful up to! $15 for adults and the children got in free. It's a 41 second elevator ride up to the 30th floor. We went on a clear 70 degree day and the views were gorgeous. Although I was extremely terrified and my legs were noodles, it's something that I am glad I experienced. read more

Up, up and away I super love getting high High elevation Trapped in a rainstorm in the Hideaway Burger Bar, so write a Yelp review. I've been to Willis, I've been to the World Trade Center. Not as good as either of those. Not as good as IDS would be, but good as it gets in Minneapolis. The oldest skyscraper in town is all but shut down except for the tourism. Once the tallest in all of the Midwest. Still worth a shot. Better than a great day in Omaha. 10 bucks to the top for a birdcage view. Pay at the W Hotel desk on floor level. Nice view of downtown Minneapolis between the bars. You will feel extremely enclosed. Not for the claustrophobic. Tight quarters. Wraparound walk with great views of all the Minny Apple. All shots taken at the risk of my cell phone falling onto the streets below. read more

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Growing up in NW Iowa, Minneapolis was the Big City. I remember lots of weekend trips to the Twin Cities that included a game (Twins, Vikings, or North Stars - all in Bloomington and where the Mall of America is located), a stay at the no longer Hotel Curtis, and a trip up to the highest building in Minneapolis - The Foshay Tower. Alas, the Foshay Tower is no longer the tallest building and most of the building has been turned into a W Hotel. However, you still can go to the front desk, buy a ticket (free for guests), take a dedicated elevator up to the observation deck, and go back in time. The view has changed, but it's still great scenery! There's also lots of cool historical information up there, including the story on how the present hotel development was born. I especially enjoyed the old directory boards with all those small letters. I lingered and came back down to earth reflective and happy. This experience remains family to me and I hope to be back to take other members and friends up. read more

Mid June times were 11-5 Thursday-Monday Charged me $12 and my two kids (9, 11) went in for free. Purchased ticket at hotel front desk. Got elevator key and was told to use the elevator to go up to the 30th floor, where the museum was. Nice little informative museum with original artifacts. Was not busy at all, we went at the time they opened. Observation desk is open air with safety covering. Telescopes on the corners. Nice view of the city. Parking was easy across the hotel and cheap compared to Chicago. A nice little touristy thing to do in Minneapolis. read more

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It was only until after I booked my stay at the W - The Foshay that I realized this was a historic building. My friend from Minnesota told me that there was a deck at my hotel, which was a pleasant surprise. What's even cooler is that hotel guests get free admission to the observation deck! I just had to remember that to get there, it's only accessible from Elevator Four and hours are 11-5PM. I made it a point before I left the hotel to check it out, so went up right at 11AM and had the only place to myself for the first 15 minutes on a Monday. Before you get to the deck itself, you enter the museum, which talks about the building, its foundation and how it became a hotel today. The museum isn't large at all, and at most, you will only take an hour to read everything. It's just very cool to read up about what used to be the tallest building in Minneapolis! Once you walk outside to the deck, it can be scary for those afraid of heights, especially when you stand up on the steps in certain spots to get even better view! The deck itself isn't very large once you circle it, so I imagine it can get crowded during a busy time. The best view I got from up here was the reflection of the Foshay itself off of a reflective neighboring tower. But the rest of the views are beautiful and can see a lot of the downtown and surrounding areas. The only thing is that I wish there were some signs, to indicate what you were looking at, which would be helpful for out-of-towners. Still, I'm glad this observation deck exists and was particularly happy to learn about some Minnesota history! read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - Foshay Tower History - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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It was easy to find the building. Only hard part was finding parking on a Monday morning in downtown. I wounded parking blocks away at a meter past Target. As we arrived, we walked towards the front desk, paid for admission, and were directed up the elevator to the 30th floor. There was a small area to read about the history. I'd call it a mini museum. It is not until you walk up to the Observation Deck that will blow your mind. North, south, east, and west were displayed in all four corners. I was able to determine which buildings had gardens and sit in areas at their rooftops. It was pretty amazing! My friend and I were up there for a good half hour admiring overlooking the city view. Def coming back! read more

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A great view in the downtown area. Worth a look if you're looking to kill 20-30 minutes. Ideal place to share the view with someone special on this observational deck. read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

While visiting Minneapolis for the weekend, I stopped at Foshay Tower to check out the observation deck. I had read that Foshay provides a wonderful view of the city skyline. Funny...every city I've explored, I always feel like it's a must go to the pinnacle/height of a tower because no two skylines are ever the same and they can be pretty majestic! Foshay Tower was a nice experience. It was around $8 (very cheap) to head up to the 31st floor observation deck. Once you buy your ticket at the lobby counter, they send you on your own to the elevators to head on up. You have all the time you'd like up at the top. Although I was on a time restriction and had to visit during a rainy/cloudy/murky day, the views were still nice. The observation deck affords you to walk 360 degrees around the tower outside with enclosed bars surrounding you. I spent 30-40 minutes taking photos and enjoying the sights before heading back down. If you're in Minneapolis for the first time, I think Foshay Tower Observation Deck is worthwhile. It's in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. After visiting, I grabbed dinner and walked a half mile to Target Field to catch the Minnesota Twins baseball game. Great way to spend a day. read more

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Truly a cool experience if you're hoping to see downtown's skyline. Fairly affordable and not a lot of traffic. Well worth the price. read more

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Not open every day until 9:00 pm like it says. Showed up only to be told it's only open on the weekend. Doesn't do me any good since I'm only here from the PNW for a few days. Would give it ZERO if I could! read more

Foshay? Fo Sure. At only 30 floors up, it's not the highest view you can get anywhere, but it's certainly one of the most unique. It really is a shame more people don't know about this cool little spot in Minneapolis. But that might be a good thing because the observation deck is actually pretty small and narrow, so it'd be difficult to enjoy if it was too crowded. But yes, it's a neat little spot that boasts a great view and it's definitely a MUST VISIT if you're a fan of Art Deco architecture. Visiting is a breeze once you know a few things and what you can expect. 1. The Foshay is now the W Hotel. So in order to get "tickets" for admission you just need to walk into the beautifully renovated Art Deco lobby all the way back to the hotel's front desks. You can't miss them under the pink neon lighting. 2. Admission to the observation deck and museum on the 30th floor is $8 for adults. $5 for teens and Seniors. Kids under 12 are free. 3. Once you pay your admission the front desk staff will give you an elevator key card and will direct you to the old timey Art Deco elevator. There you just insert the key card into a special slot and it will "unlock" the access button to the 30th floor. 4. Once you get up to the 30th floor you walk right into a neat little museum that has old photographs of the city and short videos showing the history of the Foshay tower. 5. When you're ready, find the short flight of stairs up to the observation deck, go through a small door and there you are, outside in the narrow "hall" of the observation deck feeling the Minneapolis breeze at 30 floors up. And by breeze I mean intense winds. Well, at least it was super windy on the day we went. Just be prepared for you know, weather because you'll be outside. (I know, no-duh but still). You can walk around the narrow deck in a square to get see in all 4 directions. The walls themselves are sturdy and high, so that helps if you're not great with heights. They are, however, too high for small children to see over. Each corner of the deck has a couple of steps up to view finders so you can get an even more extensive view of the beautiful city. Once you are done taking in the view or poking around the museum you just go back down and return the elevator key card to the front desk. Just a note, our key card did not actually work, but after holding up the elevator for a few minutes, the guy who actually works in the museum shop walked into the elevator after a coffee run and used his key to get us up there. He was extremely helpful and nice. read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I think every resident of the Twin Cities, and especially visitors should go up to the observation deck of the Foshay Tower. I've been up in alot of skyscrapers and monuments all across the country and this, while on a smaller scale has a similiar feel to being being atop the Empire State Building. It's the best positioned Skyscraper we have as far as views go, no longer the tallest building in the city but it is so centrally located in the skyline that practically everything can be seen from here. Because of the way everything appears when you're atop the Foshay you'd swear you were in a city much larger than Minneapolis. Another nice thing is that it feels as solid as the Empire State Building which for me is an important feature in being able to enjoy a view from atop a tall building. As far as I know this is the only observation deck in Downtown Minneapolis, if you're familiar with the Foshay the deck level is just below the pyramid that crowns the building. You'd be amazed at just how high up you actually are, for example the 3 tallest buildings Downtown, IDS Center, Wells Fargo Tower, and the Capella Tower look like their within arms reach from the Foshay's observation deck. I'm really glad the building was recently converted into a hotel, it is a much better fit than the offices that were previously housed in the Foshay. What a great job they did in restoring the lobby to its original appearance as well (love Art Deco). An absolutely amazing place, and something that offers fun without consuming your entire afternoon. This is a really good starting point for a Downtown tour. read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - Foshay Tower at night from 9th Street near 2nd Avenue South - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Foshay has a lot of history and was actually on my list of places to check out while visiting, however I have to admit that getting here was a bit of a challenge. Why you ask, well the tickets to the museum and observation desk are sold at the W Hotel lobby. Ticket prices are reasonable at $8/person and once you purchase your ticket from the a hotel employee you are given a keycard that grants you access to the 30th floor which is home to the museum. I have to admit that the history of this building was pretty unique, however the museum was rather disappointing yet it was still a great learning experience. The real part of this is the observation desk, which is only accessible by taking a flight of stairs from the 30th floor up. Once outside you can walk around the outside on the narrow walkway. There are 4 sets of binoculars on each corner of the building allowing you to take a closer look at the surroundings, however it's not needed as the Foshay already offers some great views of the smaller buildings, but also offers you something to look up at with some of the newer larger buildings surrounding it. The Foshay is an amazing Art Deco styled building built in 1929 and modeled after the Washington Monument, it sits at 447ft tall, which pales in comparison to some of the newer buildings surrounding it however they all lack the artistic styling of this classic building. The building bears a striking resemblance to the Washington Monument with the sides of the building sloping slightly inward as it approaches the top, this means that each floor is smaller than the one below it. I would recommend making a stop at this observation desk, however be advised if you are afraid of heights this might not be for you. read more

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Good view of downtown and a mostly obstructed view of Target Field. Not the breathtaking experience you expect, but it was cool enough. No view at all of the Mississippi, you can't see it at all, which isn't the fault of the building, obviously, it was built on the other side of downtown. But still, don't come in expecting all these nifty river views across into St. Paul. Also, I wasn't expecting to have to go to the front desk of the hotel and pay $12 (or was it $14?). They're definitely making a little bit of coin off a completely enclosed observation deck with a narrow walkway in a building that's been there since 1929. But ok, everybody's gotta get theirs. Don't come here on a rainy day. There's nowhere to hide unless you want to stay inside the little museum, which has enough stuff worth looking at to occupy maybe 45 minutes of your time. I got some good pictures and used the opportunity to orient myself to downtown Minneapolis, which I had never visited. So it was worth the experience. read more

Wow, only two reviews so far. This place is awesome!! It seems like this observation deck and museum are sort of under-appreciated, at least there should be more awareness of this attraction for tourists, I would think. Yet, you never really hear about it. When I went in the middle of a weekday afternoon, I was one of the only people there. It's a weird and cool thing to get your keycard downstairs and then come out of an elevator into this kooky little museum. There's some really great artifacts, pictures and information in that little space, though. Then you step outside and it is a little striking how tiny and narrow the walkway is. But the views are excellent and you can literally see for miles and miles and it gives you an appreciation and perspective on things that you wouldn't get elsewhere. I definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone. read more

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This is an awesome tourist spot or fun for Minne natives, too. I'm terrified of heights but I'm glad I braved my fears. There's a really neat, small museum at the top and it was nice refuge when the heights on the deck were overwhelming to me. The views are spectacular, of course in this age they're not unimpeded but it's still worth it to see the view from this 1930s art deco historic building. The elevators are gorgeous as is the lobby. The employees were polite and we parked on the street. They sell a few shirts at the top and I bought a really cool one for $15! read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cool little bit of history, beautiful view from the observation deck, and a great and educational host. There's a one room exhibit of different paraphernalia relating the story of the tower and it's original funder/builder Foshay. Pretty interesting story of how white collar crime and the law functioned at the time. The view though is spectacular and also includes 4 mounted binoculars on each corner of the building. It's relatively inexpensive and nice place to visit to get some local history :) read more

Okay but not worth the $10 given the option of the Minneapolis Institute of Art within walking distance, and it's free with much more to see. If $10 doesn't matter, go for it. read more

I was in town on a business trip and knew next to nothing about Minneapolis - what better way to learn about a city than to visit the local museums! I really enjoyed this tiny museum located at the tippy-top of the fabulous Foshay Tower (now owned by the W hotel people). The cases are filled with interesting articles and artifacts from the history of the building including a fascinating account of the downfall of Foshay's financial empire during the Stock Market crash - he was kind of the Bernie Madoff of his day I guess. The story gets even more interesting when you read about the letters people wrote protesting Foshay's imprisonment for fraud and the suicide of a juror who had lied about her association with Foshay. Love this stuff! They have two interactive touch screen TV's that play the same program in different parts of the museum. The sound was is a bit low on one - and my fellow visitors a bit gregarious which made it impossible to hear, so I found quieter seating in the back corner of the museum. I loved the films on the history and subsequent restoration of the Foshay fascinating! My only suggestion would be that they should look into captioning the programs for those times that there is a lot of hubbub in the galleries. The observation deck was cool! Minneapolis stretches out from the Foshay as far as one can see - when you can look beyond the newer highrises that now surround the Tower downtown. There are free telescopes at each corner of the building to peer through and the views are pretty great. I particularly liked peeking in on the urban pocket parks built into the high-rise complexes that sat below. Nifty! read more

Everyone thinks that the Foshay is just the hotel but unknown to many that it holds a small museum at the top along with a observation deck! I got a chance to go with my handy dandy student ID. (p.s you can go for free by checking out a pass at the library) . Its worth the small price if you haven't gone. Go to the hotel desk ask them about the museum they tell you to use the special elevator with the hotel key they give you that leads to the top and BAM when you get off your in the museum. Yes its small but they have tons of facts and small video you can watch when your done taking in all the info go to the stairs and walk out make sure its not a windy day because you will regret that (its chilly!) but the view is gorgeous! read more

The staff went above and beyond assisting our special needs. We visited the Foshay Towers with someone who has special needs. Right from the start the manager Matthew VandenBerg was very pleasant and accommodating. Even though our visit caused extra work on the parts of the Foshay Staff they were all very courteous and helpful. We would not have been able to see the top had it not been for their assistance. If you are going to visit Minneapolis, you do not want to miss the Foshay Tower, the ambience within and the view from the top are superb. Make sure to take advantage of the free telescopes positioned on the corners of the observation deck! We really enjoyed the history and photos in the museum as well. Want a clever picture? If you look through the telescope and wave, you can see your own reflection on the opposite building! Also try putting your camera lens up to the eye hole on the telescopes. You might want to bring a selfie stick as well, but hold on tight! read more

$12 per person to access this, no receipt offered. There are no signs or indications on where to purchase the tickets. Pretentious front desk staff at the W will sell you the tickets, pretentious door staff will keep the hotel doors open when you leave. Once on the 30th floor, one of the two touch screen TVs that are supposed to provide background info on the building did not work. The one that worked was located in a nook of the floor with two chairs and pathetic sound coming from the TV's speaker (no sound bar or other equipment making it reasonably audible). The walkway around the crown of the building is beat-up and sketchy looking. The building has a potential as a tourist attraction but is long way from it and needs competent management and planning, from proper signeage to friendly/helpful staff and execution of details. read more

This small gem was discovered by my boyfriend as he was searching for things to do before we had to catch a flight back home. It was only $8 a person to tour the small museum at the top of the tower. While small, the museum had many great artifacts related to the Foshay's interesting history. It was neat to take a look back in time to the Roaring 20's and to learn of Wilbur Foshay, the man behind the tower. The observation deck was a thrilling experience. It was a chilly 23 degree day when I visited and the wind was a little intense but still worth seeing the stunning views below. If you're looking to kill an hour, check out Foshay Tower! read more

This is one of the coolest hidden gems in the twin cities. Even a lot of locals don't know this exists. For $8 you can take the elevator to the top of the building where a small museum will teach you the history of the building and its founder. From there you can climb a flight of stairs to the open air observation deck that gives you an amazing view. The skyscrapers tower around you and you can see St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs from each side of the building. WELL worth a visit!! read more

BREATHTAKING. Gosh this place is so beautiful. The hotel it is is is pretty. The museum part of it is SOOO historic and informational. I think the place is amazing and I am so glad I went there on my trip. The view is so pretty to see the whole city. Would go back, great time and great memories. I have so many wonderful pictures! read more

Foshay Museum And Observation Deck - Amazing view - Museums Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

A great open air observation deck with 30 mile views of Minneapolis area. The museum is self paced and read as you go. Very interesting history to the Foshay building. read more

Meh. This is like a outdated bucket list item. If you're looking for a breath-taking view of Minneapolis, you'll be disappointed. The Foshay is now much shorter than other buildings in downtown Minneapolis so you can't really get a nice view from there. I also don't like how you have to look through the bars for the view. It makes me feel like I was in a prison looking out. It was also pricey for the ticket to the observation deck. I'd definitely more willing to use the same money to buy a drink at the Prohibition Bar on the 57th floor of the Foshay Tower. It's gorgeous inside the bar, you get the view, a drink, and a way better experience! read more