Made some time to check out this bridge during my recent visit to Minneapolis for work. Not only…read morewere we able to view it from Mill Ruins Park, but also while attending an event at the Guthrie Theater in the evening, we were able to gaze out the window from above and appreciate the scenery with the cityscape in the background. Such a captivating landmark!

A must when in Minneapolis! This beautiful walk takes you through pivotal MN history with…read moreinformative signage throughout the area. Beautiful view in a wonderful area!

The Tallest Building in Minnesota…read more Rising above it all in downtown Minneapolis, the 729 feet high IDS (Investors Deversified Services, Inc.) Tower with 57 levels and 1.4 million-square feet of office and retail space is the tallest building in Minnesota. But just barely. This massive glass and steel skyscraper is only 15-feet taller than the nearby Capella Tower. There is a huge debate between the IDS Tower and Capella Tower on who is truly Minnesota's Tallest Building. What isn't debatable is that the IDS Center is the heart of the Minneapolis Skyway System and Downtown Minneapolis. It is more than a skyscraper. The IDS Center is a complex featuring the 57-level skyscraper, eight-story annex building, Marquette Hotel, two-story retail mall, and the Crystal Court. Unfortunately for the Minneapolis visitor, they will most likely not rise above it all. The tower is primarily a vertical privatized establishment for business. Unlike many skyscraper landmarks, there is no top of the world bar or restaurant here. Chances are that the visitor will be seeing the IDS Center from the street, retail mall, and Crystal Court. This is the way that I saw it. And the way that Mary Richard's saw it. If you are unfamiliar with Mary Richard's she was the main character on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," which took place in Minneapolis. On the opening song "Love is all Around" there is the famous scene of her tossing her cap towards the building. As for me, I tossed more than one photo towards it. Unlike Mary Richard's I patronized the Starbuck's on the second floor in lieu of Basil's Restaurant. As you can see below, the vantage point of taking it the height of IDS Tower was from the Nicollet Transit Mall which runs through the Heart of Minneapolis. It is the centerpiece of the skyline. I spent the majority of my time here in the Crystal Court and not surprisingly in Starbuck's. The Crystal Court is an indoor park. The highlight of the park is the 105-foot tall cascading water fountain. Some people could describe it as an indoor rain forest. Throughout this indoor park beneath a glass enclosed roof in the shadow of the skyscraper are 18 olive trees and 68 benches. There is also a 29 foot interactive kiosk. Complimenting the indoor park is a gigantic American flag. In the heart of the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis this a tranquilizing indoor downtown space. Upstairs on level two, is the core of the skyway system. From the core of the skyway system four skyways radiate towards different areas of downtown. This is the zenith of the skyway experience. Looking down from the skyway level is a gorgeous view of the IDS Center Crystal Park which is one escalator ride below. It was here that I extended my moments in the tallest building of Minneapolis at the heart of the largest skyway system in America with a cup of Starbuck's. It was here that I'd continue along the skyway for more urban adventures. It was also here that Prince can be seen in "Purple Rain" looking at a shop. It is also here and downstairs in the Crystal Court where it is difficult to find a public restroom. When the need to use a restroom arrised I was left to utilize the one in the basement level of Nordstrom Rack by the Niccolet Transit Mall entrance. There you have it. Although the upper floors were off limits to me, the moments I exchanged seeing it from the street and inside its retail mall and Crystal Court were moments well spent.

Back in 1973 a friend and I crashed the grand opening ceremony and I recall walking away with a…read moreglossy multi-page booklet, a complementary hard hat (not remotely useable) and various other minor swag. The Philip Johnson designed IDS center seemed glittery, glamorous, exotic and impressive. I will admit to being a bit awestruck. Over the years I have innumerable fond memories whether entering at street level, walking in on the skyway level, sitting out on a balcony overlooking the Crystal Court or very occasionally parking below and taking in the scenery from the long lost observation level. In fact, at the risk of TMI I proposed to my late wife in 1978 while seated at a corner window table at the then still newish restaurant Windows on Minnesota (another casualty of change). Back in the day my father used to describe the IDS tower by slowly raising his middle finger. He dismissed it as "the box that the Foshay Tower came in." Well... that was then and this is now. My most recent memories are of of a tired, sparse, neglected and lonely place. Maybe an homage to glories past but one that has decidedly seen better days. Perhaps it is inevitable that as downtown Mpls has changed and become significantly repurposed structures such as the once inspiring IDS have lapsed into a rather sad reality. A veritable shadow of itself. I'm left with some great memories however!

Beautiful historical building with grey photo opportunities and a few small but exquisite museums…read moreinside! I walked into this center while attending a conference in the Saint Paul hotel across the street. I was so pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the inside is, how nice the two museums (a musical instrument museum, with amazingly beautiful old pianos, and a woodwork museum with a great collection of carved wood items) are, and how friendly and helpful the staff/volunteers were inside the center. And all of that is free to the visitors! What a wonderful opportunity to see the region's history and culture , and meet some friendly locals! I can't recommend this place enough!

Gorgeous historical building with a variety of exhibits and restored courtrooms. The woodwork…read morethroughout the building was all hand-carved, as was the stonework. A wonderful space in which to wander!

Cool view with a lot of history. great view of the city either day or night but like why couldn't…read moreit just be open to the public? You would think you would be able to go up for an even better view but nope. But even from the vantage point not too bad of a view of Minneapolis.

This water tower has quite a lot of history if you google it. The park itself isn't much to visit…read moreand surround the tower is pretty run down. I rode my bike up here just to check it out, wasn't worth it.

Very fun in a nice small park downtown. We are Peanuts fans and enjoyed the display. If you bring a…read morepicnic lunch you could enjoy it in the park.

Gotta check these out in you're in the area. I want to say the Peanuts creator was from the area so…read morethey're here as a tribute to him.

For a newbie in this area, trying to figure out where Landmark Plaza starts and ends was a…read morechallenge. There really isn't an official sign that says that you are here. My touristy impression is that Landmark Plaza is the small park in front of the historic Landmark Center. The plaza connects to both Hamm Memorial Park and Rice Park. It also has a few bronze Peanuts statues. I had parked at Infor Commons. When I had stepped out of the building and crossed the street (jaywalking across a one-way street is easy), I was at Landmark Plaza. It's cute. I can see it being a small greenspace to take a break and people-watch when it's warmer. I'd guess that Rice Park has more people there when the weather is nice, so hanging out at Landmark Plaza is a good alternative. Landmark Center is pretty cool. I learned that it used to be a post office and court house. It's now a cultural centre for music, theatre, exhibitions, dance, and more. It was nice discovering Landmark Plaza on my way to a Minnesota Wild game. I enjoy such discoveries and learning about them. (105)

This is a small pocket park that looks like a walk through. It was previously the Orpheum Theatre…read moreand later a state bank. It is a half an acre and features a couple of Peanuts statues, including one of Lucy and Linus leaning on a low wall, one with Charlie Brown sitting with a dog on his lap, and another depict Schroeder playing the piano while Lucy is leaning on it, swooning all over him. If you look closely, you will see small interpretive plaques embedded in the tops of the seat walls. It is near the Landmark Center, where it gets its name from. There is paved and cobblestone walkways that are starting to break off and come apart, along with some benches to sit. You add a little green space and that is basically all the plaza has to offer. You will find metered street parking around the perimeter of the plaza. Be sure to check the meters' enforcement hours. You may not have to pay depending on when you are there. It is a decent place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city or walk your pooch. I will admit though that this is not a destination spot and will probably be visited by people that are passing by the plaza on the way somewhere else or just wanting to take a quick break of the hustle and bustle of the city.

- Mill City Museum…read more 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.

Really loved this museum!! Especially the observation deck and the movie at the end . There was a…read morebread 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.

Today the James J. Hill house was the starting point for the Summit Avenue Walking Tour by the…read moreMinnesota Historical Society. Thoroughly informative and enjoyable. Josef was knowledgeable and a charming storyteller. The tour lasts 90 minutes and covers 1.5 miles of walking. One of the highlights was seeing the park where F. Scott Fitzgerald grew up playing baseball and the Commodore Hotel behind it where he and Zelda were often socializing. We saw multiple Victorian era architectural styles including Queen Anne, Romanesque, and Tudor Revival. Lots of historical stories, an enjoyable walk, highly recommend!

Very cute historical house. The tour was really informative and you got to see parts of the house…read morethat you can't see by walking through yourself. The kitchen and boiler room were especially cool to see.

We took our granddaughter to the Mn History Center thinking that it would be fun. We were right…read more The exhibits are interactive enough to keep her entertained and informative enough to keep our attention. My favorite exhibit was a reenactment of the 1965 Fridley Tornado with radio coverage from WCCO's Boone and Erickson. You get to sit in a "basement" and feel what they felt...it was a lot of fun.

- Minnesota History Center…read more The Minnesota History Center was an interesting and worthwhile stop, especially for anyone who enjoys learning about state and regional history. Most of the main exhibits were located on the third floor, and I believe there were around five in total during my visit. The exhibits appealed to a wide range of ages, with some sections designed for children, others for young adults, and plenty of material that adults would appreciate as well. The museum covers a broad range of Minnesota history, including major weather events, the Greatest Generation, and different decades from the 1920s through the modern era. There was a good balance of historical information, artifacts, and interactive displays. Some of the more memorable items included a pair of the first original water skis ever invented and the steering wheel from the USS Minnesota. There were many other artifacts throughout the museum that helped connect Minnesota's history to larger events in American history. Overall, there is a lot to see and learn here. I would highly recommend the Minnesota History Center to anyone interested in history or wanting to better understand the people, events, and innovations that shaped the state.