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    Weisman Art Museum

    4.1 (66 reviews)
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    Krista F.

    Building is cool, only one floor of art. Lots of things that pertain to building plans for Minnesota. Parking garage or street parking.

    @ Weisman Art Museum
    Chris E.

    Visitors will probably be more impressed with the outside more than inside, but nevertheless, the museum is full of interesting artworks of the traditional and non-traditional variety, is relatively small compared to many other art museums and, most importantly, is free! As part of our trip to Minneapolis, my wife and I stopped by to visit the Weisman Art Museum, but really we wanted to see the amazing Frank Gehry-designed exterior. If anyone has seen photos of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, then the Weisman museum will look very familiar with its shiny, silver, twisting steel shell. The Weisman Art Museum has a much lower profile than the Guggenheim in Bilbao, but it looks every bit like a piece of architecture right out of a Picasso painting. For photos, visitors could take the elevator down to the street level and get their shots in there, but an even better location is probably by the pedestrian bridge (Washington Avenue Pedestrian Bridge) outside. The museum sits right in the heart of the University of Minnesota's campus so there is plenty of foot traffic around the museum's entrance. On the Friday afternoon that we visited, school was back in session at the university, but it was very quiet in the museum. There were a few visitors here and there inside, but we were free to roam around inside without anyone else around. The museum was only 1 floor and very manageable. It took us about only 1 hour to walk around the museum at a leisurely pace and that was even cutting it long. The collection of art inside varied with a lot of it not actually only being paintings. Overall, the Weisman Art Museum was a nice, quiet, chill spot to relax and just look at some art while not letting that one activity hog up half of your day.

    Sarah S.

    Great museum, a nice variety of art for everyone. Parking ramp is easy to navigate. No food or drink allowed. Great views super cool building

    One of their huge pieces
    Nate B.

    Great art museum. Easily able to see everything in a few hours with some rotating exhibits. When we went there was a feature with digital art that was really interesting. The hotel exhibit is great and really interactive. My kids loved the museum too. Great way to spend a couple of hours and it is free! Very cool exterior too. Lovely place

    Very nice art but staff was EXTREMELY bitchy. Lots of workers just sitting in chairs chatting ready to yell at you for having a water bottle. Fix your face next time you wanna tell grown people what to do.

    Saira K.

    This is part of the University of Minnesota campus. Great architecture designed by Gehry. It's right along the Mississippi River. Don't miss the fish inside. And read why fish were important to Gehry. They have yoga and lectures and events. Admission is always free! There's some great works to see here.

    Patricia D.

    [61/100] I appreciate art museums when I travel. The art is always new to me but the purpose is familiar. I went early morning and was able to eat breakfast at their park. There was so many sculptures and the garden was so green. Parking was easy and free at the residential areas. The museum and park is enormous. I drove around one time before picking a spot. The museum is well maintained and there are plenty of other places to check out. There was a parade starting when I left which was good timing because a lot of the streets were closed off. Tips: - Wear comfortable walking shoes. - Bring water - Bring a snack or lunch. I recommend a visit, especially if you don't have too much time. The city is beautiful and spacious.

    Desert Series by Edith Carlson
    Michele B.

    Excellent modern art museum housed in it's own work of art designed by Gehry. Gehry also designed the glass fish that used to be in the sculpture garden, but is vacationing here while that area is undergoing construction. Admission is free, but a donation box suggests $3. I was so impressed I put in $5! Stopping in on a Saturday right as they opened was the perfect time to enjoy the gallery almost to myself. They have paintings, sculptures, and all sorts of interesting art to enjoy! It's located right on campus and the Mississippi River so lovely walks all around!

    "Story of a Jungle" (2006) by Bhuri Bai
    Kevin B.

    The Weisman Art Museum sits inside an eclectic, abstract building on the outskirts of the University of Minnesota campus. Easily noticeable as you drive across the river, the museum building's sleek, silver, curved sides jut in and out, simultaneously catching your attention and also perhaps making you wary of what you'll find inside. In fact, the exhibits inside weren't nearly as abstract or strange as I would've expected from the building's exterior. Which isn't a bad thing (at least for me)! The museum is larger than I expected and has rooms on a variety of topics, including Indian art, Asian sculpture and pottery, and contemporary American art. I appreciated that every piece on display had not just an artist name and a title, but also a paragraph or two about the art's meaning or origin. This made it a great way to learn about history or different cultures, and it also helped to extend the visit. Even despite reading just about everything, seeing the entire museum only took about an hour. But it was a fun hour, and the museum is completely free to the public! So if you're looking for a fun artistic adventure some lazy weekend, check out the WAM for a good time!

    The famous apt. creation.
    John S.

    I've acclimated to the twisted style of architecture of this once strange building. Now I appreciate the creativeness. We are the U, we are Mn we don't need to look like the rest. That said there were concerns that the folding and twists could not drain water properly and would stain quickly, which it does. Now on to the insides. The displays change fairly quickly giving us some variety and there is no admission. There is a donation jar which generally has a few bills and loose change on the bottom. Certainly not enough to pay the electric for a day. Modern Art and photo exhibits enhance the browsing experience and there are often educational tours and lectures for students. Not unusual to see an eclectic sample of 18-24 yr olds sketching and learning as they go. The apartment hallway is most peculiar and reminds me of my first apartment in South Minneapolis many years ago.

    09/26/18
    Michael U.

    Designed by Frank Gehry the Weisman Art Museum no doubt sticks out amongst the rest of Minneapolis' architecture, but between the small collection and price it simply lacks the relevance of Minneapolis Institute of Art though the few Master's pieces contained in the space are worth seeing if one is in the area.

    Frank Gehry designed Weisman Museum
    Jonathan E.

    The Weisman Museum is yet another example of the tremendous marriage of art and architecture that you find in the Twin Cities. We are truly blessed to have so many wonderful spaces to view art. The Weisman Museum is located on the campus of the University of Minnesota--a beautiful location over-looking the Mississippi River along the river road. Parking is made easy by having their own parking lot below the building, and another campus garage nearby. The building itself is world-famous thanks to Frank Gehry, who has designed numerous iconic structures all over the world (my favorite of which is the Stata Center on the campus of MIT). It is definitely true to Gehry's style and an inconic piece of Twin Cities architecture. The collection isnt what you might find at the Walker or MIA, but it's definitely impressive in its own right. There are pieces by Warhol & O'Keeffe just to name a couple. The space is bright thanks to many ceiling windows which allow you to view the art in good light. The new addition to the facility will also allow more of the 17,000 pieces in the collection to be displayed. One thing that I really appreciate, aside from FREE admission of couse, is that lenient photography policy. It's a great place to shoot some great art. Pros: FREE admission, beautiful architecture by Frank Gehry, nice collection, lenient photography policy, parking is easy, location overlooking the river Cons: Dont expect a collection like the MIA or Walker, the surrounding area can be busy--it's on a college campus

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    Ask the Community - Weisman Art Museum

    Review Highlights - Weisman Art Museum

    “I get a little thrill over Gehry's creation everytime I cross the bridge, but it's not what I would call beautiful.”

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    Minneapolis Institute of Art - Art in Bloom (2026)

    Minneapolis Institute of Art

    4.7(436 reviews)
    2.1 mi•Whittier

    Enthusiastically Recommend!…read more The General Collection is FREE! If you are in Minneapolis, or even close by, it is a MUST SEE! They have a wonderful collection! The staff is extremely welcoming! The atmosphere is so very inviting! I am not sure why this review is so short ... honestly, if I could put a GIF of me just jumping up and down excitedly I would. Bravo Minneapolis! You are so very lucky to have such a wonderfully welcoming museum!

    I loved thier special exhibit ( Modern Art and Politics ) and the Tibetan Meditation Room. The…read moreLayout is bizarre and some of my favorite artists weren't represented. The Minneapolis Art Institute is free. The Special exhibit is a special ticket that costs $$ unless you're a member. I went two days and I found free street parking not too far away. When I visited the Prairie Movement featuring Grant Wood and Frank Lolyd Wright I looked for Thomas Hart Benton... He was Missing in Action. MIA has several museum caliber pieces ( by Benton ), in storage. When I asked if they have any American Pop Art, the answer is Yes, but they were all MIA. In MIA's Not on View exhibit. When I asked about surrealism, they said if they have it, it's probably on the second floor. The Layout of MIA is by region and time period. The staff is very helpful at guiding me, but exact answers were challenging. Art is supposed to be for all. MIA has a massive collection, ten percent is on view at any given time. When you visit, you can type in the artist you are looking for on the website. Hopefully you'll be able to see what you seek.

    Photos
    Minneapolis Institute of Art - Art in Bloom (2026)

    Art in Bloom (2026)

    Minneapolis Institute of Art - Main stairs

    Main stairs

    Minneapolis Institute of Art - Large exhibition space

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    Large exhibition space

    Walker Art Center - Skyway

    Walker Art Center

    3.9(260 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Dropped in last night for their free Thursday evening admission. All I had to do was check-in at…read morethe front desk and receive a small medallion to wear. They even had a fun free craft going on in the basement, all supplies included and snacks! Yay! I just took an explore at my own pace through a couple of exhibits. The docents are a little creepy... I know they're just doing their job by standing there staring at you or following you around (probably because guests are bad at respecting the rules), but yeah, I found them a little distracting/detracting from the experience. Oh well. I just tried to ignore it and focus on the art as best I could. Moving from room to room and spiralling up gradual stairways will kind of get you lost inside the building. It's large and has multiple floors. The space will shift from cozy to grandiose at a moment's notice. If you don't like being lost, grab a map before you go in. If getting lost is a fun part of the experience for you, then by all means, just enjoy following your nose like I did, haha! I happened to be there on opening night for the new kid's exhibit they added, where you are encouraged to touch as part of exploration. It's not terribly large, but I like things that encourage imaginative play. Shame I saw one lady just staring at her cell phone like a drone while her kid played beside her. There are all-gender bathrooms on the ground floor by the lobby, and additional restrooms scattered throughout the center (when you stumble across them, lol). There are also coat closets for you to hang your coat if you don't need it; they keep the center nice and warm inside! There is an occasional water fountain as well, which is a godsend since they do not allow you to carry ANY drinks (even recloseable water bottles like Hydroflasks) into the exhibit spaces. There are also a couple of gift shops. The one in the lobby has affordable things, the one deeper in on the second floor is like modern art for your home + a wall of books. There are a couple of theatres inside, along with a full restaurant (y'know, if you have money for fancy-schmancy things like eating, oops). For parking you have a couple options: you can utilize the surface lot for $5 and it'll last you until midnight, or you can use the underground lot for $8. Depending on the weather conditions, that extra $3 might make it worth it to you to choose the underground space. On a chilly Thursday November evening, I still chose the outdoor lot and there were plenty of parking spaces available. There is also the option of squeezing into parallel parking along Vineland and using the meters. Obviously, the sculpture garden is also right next door to explore at any time of day for free. I highly recommend it, if only to take a quick selfie with the Cherry & Spoon or blue Cock.

    I had the pleasure of attending the performance of Shamel Pitts - Tribe: Marks of Red on Saturday…read moreand it was interesting. I was very entertained as the performers were absolutely AMAZING. I enjoyed the space and I will be back another show and all of the other art parts that offer because I really love the arts. Go and be inspired.

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    Walker Art Center - Hummus and pita

    Hummus and pita

    Walker Art Center - Art as of 7/25

    Art as of 7/25

    Walker Art Center

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    The Bakken Museum - Building area

    The Bakken Museum

    4.4(43 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    FAMILY FUN DAY at the The Bakken Museum!!! We had an unexpectedly great time. Each of us enjoyed a…read moredifferent aspect of this unique place: - My teen son loved the interactive, tech-inspired exhibits - I loved the beautiful Gothic/Tudor architecture and the history of the families that lived in the mansion throughout the years -Hubby loved the calming outdoor spaces and medicinal gardens - Our tween daughter loved her scavenger hunt for Lego people that were hidden throughout the museum From their website: The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for innovation by exploring the potential for science, technology, and the humanities to make the world a better place. Located on the West shore of Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis, the museum features interactive exhibits for all ages and exceptional STEM education programs. Make movies in the Spark exhibit, meet the mother of science fiction in Mary & Her Monster, and test out some of Ben Franklin's favorite experiments in the Electricity Party Room.

    This museum is great! My son and I loved learning about inventions and trying them out. It was very…read moreinteractive and the staff were friendly and helpful. The only downfall is that when we went in March and were waiting for our turn in the Frankenstein show a group of school kids on a field trip bypassed us forcing us to wait again. While I understand school field trips are important I also believe that paying customers should be allowed the same level of experience.

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    The Bakken Museum
    The Bakken Museum
    The Bakken Museum

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    Open Book - The Open Book Performance Hall can host up to 150 people in our welcoming space- perfect for book events, readings, lectures, or meetings.

    Open Book

    4.7(49 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Downtown Minneapolis
    •$$

    A hidden gem near stone arch! They have a large parking lot with free parking which is amazing…read moresince everything else over here is usually only paid parking. There's lots of open seating all throughout the building with comfortable chairs. Music plays lightly in the background so it's still great to come and get some work done here. They also have a FRGMNT coffee shop which is great for a little pick me up.

    I just wanted to take a moment to share my experience hosting an event at Open Book--specifically…read morefrom a catering and event-planning perspective--and I have to say, they exceeded all expectations. From the start, Wini, the event coordinator, was absolutely phenomenal. Her communication, flexibility, and attention to detail made the entire planning process seamless. The space itself is beautiful, well-equipped, and incredibly accommodating, making logistics a breeze. We hosted a business event for 40-50 people in the Performance Hall and catered through FRGMNT Coffee downstairs. Everything ran smoothly, and we received nothing but compliments on both the venue and the service. I highly recommend Open Book for nonprofits, small businesses, or anyone looking for a versatile, well-managed event space. Supporting local businesses while hosting a fantastic event? A win-win! We'll 100% be back in the future.

    Photos
    Open Book
    Open Book - This medium sized meeting space is great for retreats, meetings, classes, or private events. Located on the 2nd floor.

    This medium sized meeting space is great for retreats, meetings, classes, or private events. Located on the 2nd floor.

    Open Book

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    Mill City Museum - The crumbling courtyard was pretty cool to stand in

    Mill City Museum

    4.4(171 reviews)
    1.1 mi•Downtown Minneapolis

    - 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.

    Photos
    Mill City Museum - Zach answering our endless questions. Great tour guide. Great tour.

    Zach answering our endless questions. Great tour guide. Great tour.

    Mill City Museum - Street view of mill city museum

    Street view of mill city museum

    Mill City Museum - Great dichotomy between old and new

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    Great dichotomy between old and new

    Weisman Art Museum - artmuseums - Updated September 2026

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