This is a cool place for an exhibit on a semi-recent historical topic, which is what I came for in…read moreFebruary, 2020. They had a Beatles exhibit which featured a very nice stroll through the history of the entire Beatles phenomenon. We wound through the pre-determined path which had a few artifacts, most of which were along the lines of "here is a guitar like the one John Lennon played during this period". My expectations weren't too high for seeing real artifacts, so that was fine. They did a very nice job of taking us through the chronology of Beatlemania, and in particular I liked the photos on display. I'm very knowledgeable in Beatles history, and there were many photos that I don't recall ever having seen before. There were some cool interactive setups where you could play with some sound stuff. It was all fun and interesting. I didn't see any souvenirs for purchase that were specific to the Beatles exhibit; I'd have been interested in that. This venue is a historic theater in downtown Rochester, so it has a really cool vibe to it. You enter under the old-school marquee, past the old-school box office, and are greeted by an old-school lobby that has some fun memorabilia you can peruse before entering the main section. That main auditorium is *probably* pretty cool, but when we were in there it was mostly obscured by the Beatles exhibit. My hope is that it retains its classy, retro character, which would make it a nice environment for all kinds of events.

We drove from the Twin Cities just to see the Beatles Magical History Tour at the Chateau. It is…read morean excellent exhibit with many pieces of Beatles memorabilia, great photos, quotes from the guys and info on how they mixed music in their later days. Very interesting and fun. The Chateau is an old and very interesting building. My only negative comment is that it was cold inside. We had parked in the ramp and considered leaving our coats in the car. I was happy that we wore them as it was very chilly in the building. If you get a chance, you should go and see this exhibit, and bring warm clothes.

One of Rochesters best kept secrets The Charles Gagnon…read moresculpture museum is amazing Arlyn is a wealth of knowledge and detailed historian with each piece of art. Beautifully displayed and in an inviting and peaceful sanctuary! A must see!

Outstanding experience. This museum is definitely a "hidden gem" in Rochester. Wonderful to see…read morethe art, learn about the creation and history of bronze sculpture, and hear stories about the artist's adventures in Rochester and around the world. There is definitely something for everyone. ADA accessible; beautiful facilities; wonderful tour!

Went with daughter. Doors were wide open, but no one was at the desk. We proceed to exhibts - not…read moremuch to see. A woman approaches us and asks who let us in. We tell here the doors were wide open. She says it's not open. We applolgize and offer to go, she says no - go ahead and look around, we couldn't have known it was closed. Another, older woman then comes up and tells us it's closed. We appologize and mention the first woman, but offer to leave. She locked us out onto the street so we had to go around the entire complex to be able to get to our car. Won't be visiting again or donating, no wonder they can't get real exhibits. Don't waste your time.

It's a great Art center I enjoy their exhibits very much. I love the way it's laid out.read more

Have a baby, toddler or a kid? This is the place for you. First time parents get the first 18…read moremonths free! Amazing experience for the little ones. My daughter loved all of the activities they had there. Definitely go check it out.

I didn't realize this museum was in the mall, surprised to find that out as we pulled into the…read moreparking lot. oh well, let's give it a shot. On the plus side of location, when you need a caffeine pick me up, Caribou is ready and waiting. The museum is on the smaller side. They do cram a lot in but my kids interest was held for about two hours max. I get that you are somewhat limited by space and so they do their best. In comparison to other children's museums we have done, it is tiny. My kids did enjoy themselves for those couple of hours and then we just hung out at the mall to kill a little more time. Don't expect to stay the whole day unless you really commit but if you need something for a couple of hours, this will do.

No foolin', I took my family to the Spam Museum on April 1 for a fun day trip to Austin. I feel it…read morehas to be a write a passage as a homegrown Minnesotan to experience the Spam Museum once in your life. This free museum is right in the heart of downtown Austin and offers a fun little escape from cruddy weather outside or just to step into something historically and culturally unique in our world. I mean, a whole museum dedicated to canned meat? Weird! You can tell that a lot of creativity and thoughtful care went into the design and creation of this museum. So many bright and fun exhibits, there is not a corner left untouched. Lots of unique, hands-on opportunities for kids as well as some very cool historical offerings make this a great place for all ages. All of the exhibits are of high quality and very thought out. After your visit, you might just be inspired to stop at the grocery store afterwards and try your hand at "spiced canned ham" or in other words SPAM!

This is a cool, kitschy road trip-type of stop that is amusing and fun. Plus, it's totally free to…read moreenter, though there is a gift shop packed with branded goods to tempt your pocketbook! The museum is located right in downtown Austin. The lot immediately behind the museum is small but there is abundant other parking around. I didn't notice any meters or paid parking. A stop at the friendly front desk clerk helped us to get the layout. Everything is on the first floor, which is level. Many exhibits are located along wide aisles, though there are some cubbies such as in the international area. The museum guides visitors through the history of Spam, where it is found around the world and what the flavors are (the commercials are delightfully cheesy), and how it is made. World War II is quite a focus in the history section. There are interactive screens placed at an accessible low level for kids and wheelchair users that share quizzes and trivia. As we wandered through, an employee came through with samples speared on pretzel sticks. We got to try smoked Spam and maple Spam. The gift shop was a good final stop. This would be a great place to get a gag or white elephant gift. I collect smashed pennies, and I was happy to find a machine in the gift shop.

What I like best about this place is the cave tours they offer. The Stoppel family dug these caves…read morein the sandstone outcroppings in the 1800s. Some old dates and rather interesting graffiti inside.

My wife and I and a couple of relatives were in Rochester for a wedding and needed something to do…read morefor an afternoon. I lived here for a few years and never knew the history museum was here because I never really made it to this side of town. The museum part is pretty small but informative, but the outside features are cool. You can tour an old farm house and an old school. There is a lot of history about the Mayo Clinic, which I didn't really know about and you can do the whole thing in about an hour. We had a nice place to kill a couple of hours and I am glad we did.

This was a total hidden gem. We stumbled upon this lovely museum because our roadside app told us…read moreabout some wood carvings of the 3 Stooges on the corner. I spotted "Laura Ingalls Wilder" on the church sign next to Mo and dragged hubby over. This church is now a museum. Almanzo Wilder and his family moved to Spring Valley from New York. Laura and Almanzo lived here in 1890 and attended this church which the Wilder family helped finance. Very interesting collection of photos and momentos from this time. Admission also includes either a one or 2 hour tour. We had only 20 minutes and the young guide did a great job hitting all the key items. We also rushed through the local history section which was also very unique. Don't miss the white wolf, 1950s perm machine or the medical kit from the "Lady Doctor" who was certified to practice medicine in 1838!

This is one of the best historical museums in Minnesota if not the nation and compares favorably…read morewith the best museums I've visited around the world. It covers the history of Spring Valley and its environs from before 5,000 BC to the present, focusing on the Wilder family and the history of this area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Frankly, I could simply not believe depth and breath of the exhibits here when I recently visited for the first time. I learned many interesting, why-did-I-not-know-this facts. The Wilder family, for example, made a sizeable contribution for the construction of the Methodist church in which the museum is located. Almonzo Wilder, who married Laura Ingalls, had a childhood friend named Richard Sears, who went on to found Sears with his partner, Alvah Roebuck. And, it really surprised me to learn that Dr. Henry Plummer, the Mayo brothers' right hand man, graduated from Spring Valley High School. There is much, much more. If you want to learn about Minnesota, visit this place and skip the State Fair this year.

This is a destination spot, for sure. I live in Minneapolis and even the trip down is pleasant (I…read morerecommend going down the Wisconsin side of the river), with great views and frequent eagle sightings. Lake City is a very pretty place to stop and take a walk, with lots of good places to eat. Continuing down to Wabasha (back on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi) , it's a really pretty drive. The Eagle Center is equal parts educational and a place to get up close and personal with a variety of eagles. They also have demonstrations that are guaranteed to delight both kids and adults. Take a bit of time and walk around the town of Wabasha, which was established in 1854. Many of the old homes and buildings still remain in this very historic town. The Eagle Center and the town of Wabasha are great destinations at any time of the year.

We didn't see much eagles, just two injured ones in a tiny room of ppl packed like sardines and it…read moresmelled of farts . For tiny museum we spent 54 on 2 adults and 3 kids for 30 min of walking around of tiny museum with random eagle facts and army stuff ... weird Wonder Woman statue ... it was not worth it. If you go there don't pay for the museum just walk around the area it's pretty there by the river . We all thought we will see eagles but you don't maybe if you go there at certain season ( we went in mid October)