- Mill City Museum Mill City Museum was one of the highlights of my time in Minneapolis and is absolutely worth visiting. One important thing to know is that the museum closes around 4:30 p.m., so plan accordingly. I would recommend giving yourself at least 90 minutes to two hours. You could move through faster, but you would miss a lot of the history and displays. Admission was around $15, and it was completely worth the price. After purchasing a ticket, you receive a sticker with a scheduled time for the Flour Tower experience. When that time arrives, you report to the designated area on the first floor. While waiting, there is plenty to explore about the history of the mills, the surrounding area, and the enormous role Minneapolis played in the flour industry. I do not want to spoil the Flour Tower experience, but I will say this: it is absolutely worth doing. My advice is to sit in the front row near the middle. I happened to choose that seat by chance, and it ended up being the best seat in the house. The experience genuinely surprised me and became one of the first things I told friends and family about when I returned home. Afterward, you are taken to the top of the building, where there are excellent views of the surrounding area. You can see the Pillsbury Mill across the river, the Stone Arch Bridge, St. Anthony Falls, the lock and dam, the Guthrie Theater, nearby park areas, and portions of the historic mill ruins. Once you return to the first floor, you can also walk through and see the ruins up close. I spent about an hour and a half here and felt that was a good amount of time, although someone who enjoys reading every display could easily spend two hours or more. I highly recommend Mill City Museum, especially for anyone visiting Minneapolis for the first time. It is educational, creative, memorable, and one of those attractions that is much more impressive than you may expect going in. read more

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Really loved this museum!! Especially the observation deck and the movie at the end . There was a bread tasting and a fool proof recipe given. It was informative in terms of understanding the city culture and flour milling. Great gift shop too! I highly recommend. read more

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A must-visit for bakers and anyone interested in industrial history. Could have spent even more time than we did (stayed about 2 hours). read more

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First time visiting and both my son and I enjoyed it. He especially liked the water table activities, the pretend meal table and going out to the dam. I like the elevator ride/video, explosion demonstration and the views. Definitely a must if you're into local history. You can easily see it all in 3-4 hours. It's more well kept and better staffed than any of the other museums in the area. The staff were very helpful. read more

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I went to one of the most amazing events this weekend. Put on by Chef Lachelle. It fed my stomach and my soul. Even though I didn't get to explore the space I saw so parts that peeked my interest that will have me back. Also, the staff were so friendly and helpful. I really have a good time whenever I'm there read more

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Stopped in today as a chaperone for my kiddo's field trips, and we had such a blast! The staff running the different areas of the museum were so friendly and knowledgeable, they handled the questions well, and they were really great with the kids. So many different, interactive activities, and so much great information about Minneapolis and the history of the flour mill industry. I will definitely be back with my other kiddo. So much fun! read more

Mill City Museum - Shortbread cookie recipe in the Baking Lab! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I loved the museum experience and thought it was well worth the ticket! The museum did a great job at showing the industry and changes throughout the years which was tied to the history of the city . The highlight was the interactive guided theatre experience. All staff are super nice. I appreciate it all the angles it explored from one single flour factory. The top floor deck has an amazing view of the city and the river front as well as the bridges . This facility is great for tourist and locals, adult and children. read more

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Great scenery in and outside the museum! Lots of street parking around the area too. Very nice museum with lots of history. Pricing varies depending on which exhibits you want to see. There is the mill city farmers market on Saturday mornings as well! Great experience. They also have a cafe inside as well, plus tons of access to nearby restaurants. read more

Mill City Museum - Outside of mill city museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Really enjoyed the tour and the docent was very informative. Had a great time . read more

Attended a catered event here. What a great venue for a large group. The museum itself was truly interesting. If you get a chance take the elevator. Also go up to the top floor deck the view is stunning. read more

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As museums go, this one is highly interactive and interesting, appropriate for all age groups, educational, and architecturally interesting as well. We learned all about the Great Mill Disaster of 1878 when a flour explosion destroyed the original Washburn A Mill, including a small scale demonstration of how such an explosion can occur. We learned about the history of the flour industry and even got samples of freshly baked white chocolate lemon bars in their baking lab on site. And so much more! Come check it out. read more

Mill City Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Very cool, unique museum! While the museum focuses mostly on the history of milling in the city, there is also a lot of general Minneapolis history. Each entry gets a time to tour the "Flour Tower" - an elevator type exhibit with a different story to tell on each floor. It ended at the top of the building with amazing views of the river! If you time your visit right, you can even get samples of sweet treats at their baking lab. Fun water-based activities for kids and adults alike to learn more about milling and the power or water. Would recommend. read more

Mill City Museum - View from the top of the tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Though the museum's architecture is pretty Stark and impressive, especially the dichotomy between old and new, besides the story that is told in the elevator tour and just after, and the view from the top, this museum didn't really hold my attention for long. It seemed like the bottom area was mainly for kids so I think I spent a total of 5 minutes down there. The elevator tour was interesting but not at all what I expected. I thought as each doors opened, the area would be a renovated part of the old museum as it was in the past but instead it was recreated and seemed kind of phony and childish. The very top was as I was hoping it would be and the docent gave us a good history story. After doing that you are free to stay up on the viewing balcony as long as you like which I took full advantage of as the day was perfect and the view was great. The 15 minute movie on the history of Minneapolis was a little interesting, but again, not something that could have held my interest for much longer. I forget how much I paid, maybe $25, but that was far too steep of a price in my opinion especially when you can get pretty much the exact same view from two different perspectives at the Guthrie theater just a short walk away, for free. read more

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We had a great experience at Mill City Museum. Such interesting history on the flour mills in the minneapolis area. Price is reasonable. There are plenty of exhibits: hands on and even a "test" kitchen" where we got to try some brownies :) The elevator ride and history tour was great! The views from upstairs are beautiful. You can park on the street (pretty cheap). Definitely put this on your list of things to do in Minneapolis! read more

Mill City Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This is an excellent museum on history specific to the city of Minneapolis, and the mills that helped shape the city's early days. We came here on a Saturday afternoon in March. My 9 year old son was wary of visiting a second history museum in one day (first was Minnesota History Center) but he absolutely loved it here. At one point he declared Minnesota to be way cooler than NJ, where we are from. The interactive space is great if you have kids, especially the area that allows them to experiment with water and how mills generate power using the river. Many other reviewers have noted the Flour Tower, but here are my two cents: I have been to many, many museums in my day, and I can say without a trace of exaggeration that this exhibit was one of the most creative, well done, informative exhibits I have ever seen. The seamless blending of audio from first person accounts and sound effects, stationary visuals mixed with video projected on walls, all making use of the historic building itself... it was all incredibly impressive and is not to be missed. This was my first time here and I can definitely recommend this place to other history buffs. read more

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Amazing place to learn about the history that built our state and our nation. We did a 3-hour guided tour and went through the green elevator where you go up and see a living history of the mill city museum we also did the building of the city is in 19 minutes flat which was really good. When you go up in the elevator to the top of the green elevator you realize that this was just one of many flower companies that build on the river to use the power of the river and grind the mill that was then delivered all over the world. Really good historical elements on the different processes that evolved over time and making flour and all the different products that we need to globally around flour as the base. They have a water lab where you get to see how the hydroelectricity of the water that comes from the dams created power the flour mills. So much stuff to see and learn and do you could probably spend an entire day there I got to spend 3 hours with one of my son's classes and it was amazing. I would cherish the time to go again if I end up helping on another field trip. read more

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This was a really cool museum. It gave great insight into the industry that put this town on the map. It was also cool to learn about the history of the building and see how this district is being turned around. I left with a new appreciation of the flour industry and the history of Minneapolis. read more

I'll admit I was skeptical about all the raving reviews that locals give this place but I'll say I was a mix of pleasantly surprised while also left feeling like my experience was incomplete. The interactive exhibits were engaging and definitely saw many visitors making use of them and the baking demo area was neat to stop by and try some samples using local ingredients. The flour ride and observation deck are really the main attractions here. I wasn't expecting a 4D-esque experience in the flour tower ride so that was actually pretty unique to see recreations of the mill back when it was in peak business, but the archival voice overs, while surprising in their age left me feeling an incomplete experience. There are voiceovers of workers being interviewed when the plant was being shut down, the major fire in the 90s, and also the cohort of female workers being let go when men returned back from the war efforts. I was hoping we would get some more expansion on what precisely caused the closure of the plant along with what happens to the female workers being displaced, but no explanations were offered. For a museum it kinda felt like they wanted to acknowledge the unfortunate events but not really own up to them which just seemed a bit odd for a place that's supposed to teach about the history of the importance of the mill to the history of the cities. read more

We were looking for things to do with my parents on a hot day. This place didn't disappoint. There was something for all of us. We leaned about processing flour and the history of the building. The elevator experience was interesting as well as the quick history video. We loved the views from the top of the building. There are things for kids to do and plenty to learn. There is a test kitchen that was giving out samples. There is a nice gift shop. It was fun, interesting and we learned something. read more

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Mill City Museum was a super cool museum that I visited a few months ago with my brother. We are both adults, but this museum has plenty to offer for both children and adults. This museum walks you through the history of Minneapolis as a major mill industry center. There are more traditional exhibits with plenty of material to read, but also plenty of interactive things for kids and adults. The highlight is this elevator tour that takes you through the different levels and times in history of the area. It is super exciting and at the end, you are at the top of the museum which has a beautiful view of the city (see my pictures). I'd say 1-2 hours is about the right amount of time to spend here - highly recommend. read more

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What an experience!! I strongly recommend you to come here if you are looking for a place to learn about the history of mills and the hard work done. I came 30 mins before closing an went for the Flour Tower and I enjoyed it so much! It is the best as one is in the elevator tour. The staff is patient an knowleagable and one has access to the rooftop. Great view of the Stone Bridge. read more

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Informative in a creative way. Probably took us 1 hr - 1.5 hr to learn everything. The ticket price is not bad so it was worth it. read more

Mill City Museum - River view from top floor - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This is a must-see for every Twin Cities resident - or visitor! Mill City Museum highlights exactly why Minneapolis was nicknamed "Mill City" - for flour mills that lined the river. Dive into the history of flour and milling, Minneapolis' history and how it grew around that, and enjoy some interactive elements: MINNEAPOLIS IN 19 MINUTES Don't skip this awesome film! It's so much fun to see historical photos and videos of Minneapolis and learn about its mill era. FLOUR TOWER Another absolute must! Ride this interactive elevator and enjoy the visual storytelling. At the top, get out to see the machinery, and then a top-floor view of the ruins below and the river beyond! WATER ACTIVITIES Great for kids! Learn how water is shifted in replicas of the St. Anthony Falls with real water, learn about water power with water exhibits, and more. BAKING LAB Stop in for a baked treat here - such a cool idea! Truly so much to see and do here, and you'll leave knowing much more about Minneapolis' history. read more

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The museum is located on the bank of Mississippi River at the remains of the Washburn A Mill which was the largest mill in the world. The museum displays many of the original equipment and offers a short movie and tour that explains the rise and fall of the mill. I learned not only about the history of the mill, but also the history of Minneapolis. I highly recommend visiting this place! read more

Mill City Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I was here for an urban sketchers event. I actually did not buy a ticket to get into the museum. I was impressed by how much you could see without a purchase. When I think of the museum, I think of the ruins and the views of the ruins were beautiful in the free part of the museum. I definitely will visit again and purchase the ticket next time. They have a cool elevator ride to educate you about the history of the mill. I would also like to visit during warmer weather as I think it would be very interesting to see the ruins up close and personal. Such an important part of the history of our city and worth a visit. Check it out! read more

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Great museum! The elevator tour was unique and fascinating - I particularly liked that they used voice overs of actual former workers to help explain all the equipment. All the docents we talked to were really knowledgeable. And the views from the observation deck are fabulous. Highly recommend! read more

We absolutely love Mill City Museum, so much so that we joined this year and visit a couple times per month. Other than maybe wanting them to open a bit earlier on weekends, we could not be happier with this museum. This is a GREAT place to bring kids, they have a ton of interactive exhibits that are both educational and fun. We especially love the water exhibits that allow children (or children at heart) to practice floating logs down the river, build their other bridges and roads, and practice diverting water to generate hydroelectric power. There's also a huge truck/train/boat play city, a giant block puzzle, and many other interactive games. Our toddler loves all of these things and can spend hours interacting with them. The "Flower Tower" show is fun; it sort of reminds me of the Tower of Terror at Disney without the big drop. You get to learn about how flower milling started in Minneapolis, and finish with an amazing view of the river and the skyline. The movie about Minneapolis is also a great intro to the history of the city. There's a good-sized gift shop and a small (and just so/so) cafe upstairs. On many Saturdays, there's a farmers market either inside or outdoors (depending on the season). Highly recommended as a one-time visit for out-of-towners and a membership for locals with young kids in tow! read more

It was amazing and great. Went on a solo date and it was worth it. I was able to see and learn so much! Pros: -Street parking -Discount for students -Have a coffee shop inside. read more

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Amazing! It is AMAZING! I loved how the museum explained so much history about the grain industry. I thoroughly enjoyed going on the flour tower tour and learning all about how the history came about. My favorite part was the observation deck where it allowed me to see the water fall and the courtyard ruins! Definitely worth it! read more

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Sneaky cool museum. Very cool historical building that it is neat what they did with. Flour tour is very informative and worth the price of admission. Tons of great interpretive content and artifacts in rest of museum. Kid friendly. Staff is plentiful and willing to answer questions. Not huge so you can get through in an hour or two. Place worth checking out. read more

This is a GREAT example of industrial ruins. Pittsburgh has the Carry Blast Furnace National Historic Site (Steel Mill), Detroit had the Packard car factory (now torn down), Butte, Montana has the Mining Museum, and Allantown/Betlaham PA have the Steel Stacks and Labor Museum. The Twin Cities have the ruins of flour mills. We need to preserve our industrial past! Kids today need to know and learn about what their grandparents and great grandparents did for a living, these workers built America. read more

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A fascinating insight into the mill industry. Our tour guide Zach graciously answered all our questions and we had many. Highly recommend. read more

Mill City Museum - Zach answering our endless questions. Great tour guide. Great tour. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The history of General Mills is interesting how the many mills were consolidated and how they were utilizing the power of the falls to drive their engines, the milling boom and swift decline that followed. Quite cool how they made full use the old grain mill here. As you work your way upward through the silo you're able to see a lot of the old machines in action in a closed environment. I think it's neat how everything felt so regimented and mechanical with near complete disregard for safety. People worked with moving parts and belts of these massive machines on the fly and also performed belt repairs whilst the machine was still running so as not to stop the production. Needless to say an OSHA inspector would awake in cold sweats just thinking about the conditions that were present. At the end of the tour they have treats and a pretty cringe video from a local icon but it's still all in good, light-hearted fun. I enjoyed it nonetheless. The area this museum is situated in was rough-and-tumble at one time though walking through it now it feels pretty bougie. Tons of string lights, Priuses, and a Whole Foods down the road let me know I was really in the zone. Beautiful area though, these mills add to the already amazing Minneapolis-St Paul charm. read more

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I gotta admit, wheat and making bread is utterly a boring concept to consider that would make one wonder: Why the hell have a museum about it? But I will say, the Mill City Museum in MSP is well worth a visit if you're a tourist and want insight on this charming city in the state of 10,000 lakes. The cost is marginal at only $12 if you're an adult. There are many unique artifacts relating to the mill that used to exist in this building. There's plenty of affordable parking nearby the museum. In fact, we parked right dab smack in the front of the entrance. You'll need about an hour or two to explore this place which also offers a cool elevator show that talks about about first hand accounts of the Mills here and at the end, you find yourself unexpectedly 5 floors up with amazing views of the Mississippi River. The staff that work here are super friendly and provide a lot of insight on how to make most of the museum. I enjoyed the huge Bisquick box at the center. I found the bakery exhibits fun because they actually bake small samples that you can eat such as a chocolate chip cookies and bread samples. There's also a very insightful 29 minutes film on the history of Minneapolis that talks a bit about the city and is poetically narrated by a man who grew up in MSP. He even made a Husker Du reference which I thought was cool. This was one of the funnest parts of my trip this year. read more

Place was nice with great views of the river and surrounding areas. They had someone at the entrance to assist you were to go. I didn't get to explore much of the inside and didn't pay for the actual museum portion given time constraints. However, from outside looking in, it looked like they had many interactive things to do, esp for kids. Great place to learn the history of the mill and the functions of it. Did the "free" portion where you still had a view of the outside structure then visited the museum store. If I had more time in the area I would've purchased a ticket to go in the actual museum. read more

Mill City Museum - Exterior of the old Building - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

A great museum and worth a visit if you are in the Twin Cities. Who knew that the history of a flour mill could be so interesting? You can walk through the ruins of the old mill, watch a 19 minute long movie on the history of Minneapolis, see the downtown from the rooftop and learn about General Mills and Kellogg's. Admission is $12 but it's worth checking out! read more

Mill City Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I recently visited Mill City Museum and was amazed by its rich history and unique setting. The museum, built within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, offers a captivating glimpse into the revolutionary milling processes that shaped Minneapolis into the flour milling capital of the world in the late 19th century. The museum showcases the technological advancements of the Washburn-Crosby Co., later General Mills, and how it brought fine wheat flour to the masses. Walking through the National Historic Landmark, I could feel the significance of this site and its impact on the local community. The Minnesota Historical Society has done a fantastic job preserving and presenting this important piece of history. A must-visit for history buffs and anyone interested in Minneapolis' industrial heritage. The interactive Flour Tower was amazing, including a ride to the top of the mill and being able to see much of the Mississippi River! read more

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This museum is for those into history, architecture, and baking. Even if you're from the Twin Cities you're still going to leave learning a neat fact about it's history. Don't miss your Flour Tower tour time. It's a super cool experience. You're able to hear the voices of real employees who worked at the mill and a little bit about the fire. Don't worry if you did miss your time slot.... the staff are friendly and you can ask them if you're able to join the next one. Once, you're up there and if it's a beautiful day out, check out the observation deck. Awesome view for those of you that are photographers. read more

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If I could give it a 10 star review I would. Went here for a field trip one of the best field trips I had

I've heard about this museum for sometime, I love history and was excited to get some Minnesota history. Don't be put off by this being an old mill and about the history of milling. It's more of the history of MN as well as Minneapolis! Amazing interactive exhibits, great short film as well as amazing employees who have great facts to offer. My 10 year old son loved it as well as I!! read more

Mill City Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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