James J. Fiorentino Museum is an amazing one of a kind place filled with unique and historical…read moreitems. You won't find this listed very easily on the MN. museums list as it's a private collection and showings are by appointment only. I took a chance and sent an email to Rob Andres; Operations Manager of the collection. He responded right away and was lucky enough to get a time slot. The majority of the huge collection are genuine hand carved beautiful cuckoo clocks dating back decades that were from Germany and made with wood from the Black Foredt. Some have been restored and repaired to bring them back to their glory. They feature many different motifs of animals, instruments and fauna (leaves). The woodwork on these clocks is ornate and extraordinary! The delicate intricate wood work on the cuckoo's is really neat to see. Rob gave a private tour where there were soo many additional non clock items in the collection that were historic and fascinating in nature. There were many exhibits and well worthwhile seeing. Many items brought back memories of time past. It was both fun and enjoyable seeing all the variety of cuckoo clocks in working order. This is truly a one of a kind museum collection. I'm so glad I had the privilege of going here. Rob shares some really unique stories behind the pieces and you'll not see anything like this amazing collection at a museum stateside. I have put only a few pictures of some of the items as I don't want to spoil or giveaway some of the choice masterpieces! You'll have to go see them for yourself! contact@clocksandstuff.org

This by appointment-only museum is a trip back in time. Sometimes called the Cuckoo Clock Museum,…read morethey have tons of beautifully crafted cuckoo clocks but so much more. The old telephones caught my eye as we were here with the Urban Sketching group. When you make an appointment to tour the museum, you will be treated to the history and craftsmanship of the many items. The garage turned museum was a labor of love for Mr Fiorentino and it's a gift to be able to share with many others. On street parking is available. Head to the north loop to check this place out.

Better (extremely) late than never…read more The Pavek affords one a step back in time to an era when Radio was dominant. I find that it has a fascinating collection of all manner of radios as well as TVs and assorted broadcast equipment. The museum has made a heroic effort to preserve the early days of electronic media and to me it serves as a reminder that what's new is old. Hours are somewhat limited (see Pavek online for current info). The price of admission is quite reasonable in my opinion. Unfortunately the Pavek is relatively obscure and not at all well known (at least locally). I suppose that makes the place a "hidden gem." I personally think it deserves much greater recognition. Well worth a look in my book.

Tons of very interesting historical radio and television equipment and information! A must see for…read moreanyone interested in radio and television broadcasting and technology! Lots of information on local Twin Cities broadcasting history as well.

Located right by the MIA...this is a very unique and interesting museum...that I didn't even know…read moreabout until I came here for an art workshop. Came here actually for an interesting art workshop called "Create 'Unexpected Art' with Becka Rahn" which involved creating images and computers and the final product would be a swatch of material from an image that I created!Which is to be mailed to the participant via mail.. which I haven't yet received...I took this workshop with a past participant who was raving about it ... I really did enjoy my experience and I am so looking forward to my finished product! $5 gets you in and also a tour of the museum/mansion.. oh what a deal.. and like Rhonda G. says below... it's really like having a Downtown Abbey right here in Minneapolis! FREE Parking that's connected to the museum, too! Look forward to attending more interesting events here in the future!

If you are a native Minneapolite - or even just a transplant / convert - check this place out. It's…read morekitty-corner from the MIA so you can make a day of museum hopping followed by a meal at one of the many restaurants along nearby Eat Street (Nicollet Ave). For a minimal fee, you'll be able to check out the fantastically-curated exhibits that explore different topics relevant to Hennepin County's history through photographs, textiles, paintings, videos, audio-recordings, sculptures, artifacts, and more. It is a full-sensory experience in a historic mansion that cannot and should not be missed. In addition to traditional exhibitions, they have unique and fun programming - which sounds like it will be more frequent according to an article I read recently about the new director! Plus, the mansion is available as a venue rental. I even considered it for my upcoming wedding! The biggest downsides (and biggest complaints I had while working there) are 1) the fact that the building is not handicap accessible and 2) the lack of air conditioning in the summertime. It's an unfortunate reality about many historic buildings but even more so for HHM...as a non-profit and lesser-known museum, lots of funding is needed to facilitate the appropriate and allowed retrofitting while still protecting the historic integrity. Admittedly, I am a bit biased in my love of this place. When I graduated with my B.A. in cultural studies and comparative literature, I began scouring the Twin Cities for non-profit gigs, especially those in the Arts. I landed my first post-college job as a museum administrator at the Hennepin History Museum despite having never stepped foot in the mansion or even knowing of its existence. It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot, but the most valuable thing I learned was what an exceptional gem HHM is. Please do not miss out on the opportunity to explore!

Another masterpiece of a model railroad. The March flea market was a good show with excellent buys…read moreand plenty of vendors. The layout is fully operational and many trains operate at one time. The current size covers East Minneapolis Junction to Duluth, Brainerd and Staples. This is an incredible place to take kids who are about 4 and up. Kids will love the buildings where you can see the inside. You could spend many hours just watching trains pass by. For kids under 4 feet tall be prepared to carry them so they can see everything.

We got a family membership as a gift last year (2024) and both of our kids love coming here…read more There are a variety of interactive activities for kids (and adults) of all ages. Our boys' favorite activity is the one you get to race against professional athletes, T-Rex or TC Bear! It's great that the Omnitheater shows are included in our membership.

We have a family membership to this museum and it was the best decision we made! We've been coming…read morehere with our kids and grandkids and it has paid for itself. There are five floors to explore and has a variety of exhibits and fun hands-on activities. Our grandkids just love it here! They also have a coffee shop with different pastries and a nice food spot for lunch. We really enjoy it here and I highly recommend this spot!!

First I should say CALL for hours. They are open only on some Saturdays…read more Then If you have a toddler this little museum is worth a stop when you are in NE Minneapolis! Yes it is small. You could see most of it if you don't read all the signs in under an hour. But the little one's will want to stay longer. When it comes to that there is a good mix of things to interact with and things that can't be touched. One truck even had the lights and other switches powered for the kids to play with. They also have a fireman's pole for kids to slide down. My little guy was also pleased to wear a fireman's suit and hat the whole time we were there. I

What an interesting place to peruse. We did an Urban Sketchers event here. There were so many…read morethings to look at. Of course, they have fire engines, but I was more intrigued by things like fire axes, coats, tools, the switchboard, and helmets, all those little things that assist firefighters in putting out fires. They have their own parking lot but on-street parking was easy as well. Staff was friendly and gave us a mini tour. Apparently, it's a popular spot for kids birthday parties and there were several in the time we were there. Admission was $7 and it was well worth it. They had some very heart wrenching pics of the 35W bridge collapse. Such an important role the firefighters played in this disaster. If you are looking for something different to do, this is a great option.

- 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.

A must see in Twin Cities. It is a small museum that has a wealth of knowledge about American…read moreHistory. The museum is a start up composed of locals who want to share Minnesota's history. The museum is small so it is easy to fit into any schedule. The museum is free and parking is free. It is also on two bus routes and has a bike lane access. It is a 10 minute drive from downtown. Please visit and support their expansion.

I love going to museums and when I heard about this one opening, I added it to my list of places to…read morevisit. This is on the 4th floor of the 1265 building at the corner of Penn & Plymouth. It is FREE of charge but they do accept and run on donations. There's also free parking in the ramp below the building. It's a quaint room that's rich with African American history in Minnesota. I learned so much about black ingenuity, the way the Penn area has changed, and migration of African Americans to this area. There's a photo book that asks for people to identify those in the pictures. There are children's books in the corner, and cool art pieces. My favorite part was sitting down and listening to the documentary/interviews of different people who have lived and seen the changes in this area of town. These stories are so rich and it would be a shame to lose them. Don't let the size of the museum deter you: it's small but packs a punch in cultural information. Highly recommend it! Plus I love the MAAHG stickers!