Things to do in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul: The Best Specialty Museums

April 15, 2022 Vivienne Hutton

Discover the best top things to do in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, United States including Westonka History Museum, Hocokata Ti, Gammelgarden Museum, Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing, Wings of the North Air Museum, Pavek Museum of Broadcasting, American Swedish Institute, Foshay Tower, Science Museum of Minnesota, The Bakken Museum.
Restaurants in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul

1. Westonka History Museum

5341 Maywood Rd Level 5, Mound, MN 55364-1627 +1 952-472-9800 [email protected] http://www.westonkahistoricalsociety.org
Excellent
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Westonka History Museum

2. Hocokata Ti

Hocokata Ti 2300 Tiwahe Circle, Shakopee, MN 55375 +1 952-233-9151 http://tickets.hocokatati.org/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Hocokata Ti

Experience Dakota Culture! Hoċokata Ti's 3,805-square-foot public exhibit, Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake, provides visitors with a cultural experience that enhances their knowledge and understanding of the Mdewakanton Dakota people and their history.

3. Gammelgarden Museum

20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN 55073 +1 651-433-5053 http://www.gammelgardenmuseum.org
Excellent
85%
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5.0 based on 20 reviews

Gammelgarden Museum

Museum is open for tours May through mid-October. The Butik gift shop is open May to Christmas. Great place for a view of Minnesota history. We're closed Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving day.

4. Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing

310 Airport Rd Fleming Field Hangar #3, South Saint Paul, MN 55075-3551 +1 651-455-6942 [email protected] http://www.cafmn.org/
Excellent
90%
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5.0 based on 10 reviews

Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing

The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing was formed in 1971. The museum is home to six aircraft, a large motor pool fleet, and a unique collection of World War II artifacts that are on display. ​ Our hangar and museum are open to the public Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Admission is free of charge. Donations are always welcome and appreciated when visiting. Visitors will have the opportunity to get close to our rare collection of military aircraft, view our museum display cases, and see our motor pool vehicles. You may be able to witness our aircraft fly depending on the day. Living History Flight Experiences can be purchased in our gift shop for a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually operating airport, something interesting is always happening just outside our hangar door. We look forward to your visit.

5. Wings of the North Air Museum

10100 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55347-4016 +1 952-746-6100 [email protected] http://www.wotn.org/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 32 reviews

Wings of the North Air Museum

The museum features five beautifully restored World War II aircraft including an AT-6D Texan, a P-51D Mustang, and a Boeing N2S-1 Stearman that was flown by future President George HW Bush during his training as a Navy pilot, and a TBM Avenger. Other displays include aircraft engines, an ejection seat, a WWII Jeep built by Ford, and aviation art. Tours for groups of 8 or more by appointment and the museum is available for small group meetings and parties. Call for rates. We are often open on holidays. Call or check our Facebook page.

Reviewed By TimothyB173 - Minneapolis, United States

This is a great little air museum located at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, MN with easy and short access from I-494. They don't have an extensive collection of aircraft, but what they don't have in quantity they make up for in quality and the knowledge of their volunteers. Unlike most museums, Wings of the North has a team of volunteer docents that guides you through the memorabilia collection inside and then then aircraft collection in the hangar. It's the volunteers that makes this such a unique experience. Their knowledge is exceptional and they take the time to answer all of your questions. The collection includes the Stearman in which President George HW Bush (41) earned his wings while he was a naval flight cadet in Minneapolis. If you're visiting the Twin Cities and are into aviation, I also highly recommend the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Chapter Museum at Flemming Field in South St. Paul. Also the Northwest Airlines History Center has a wonderful little museum that's run by several of the NWA retirees. This is located in the Crowne Plaza Hotel on 34th Ave just off I-494 from MSP airport. And finally, if you're up for a drive, the Fagan Fighters Museum in Granite Falls, MN is simply top-notch. This is a very enjoyable 2-hour drive from the Twin Cities through the heart of Minnesota farm country.

6. Pavek Museum of Broadcasting

3517 Raleigh Ave, Saint Louis Park, MN 55416-2625 +1 952-926-8198 http://www.pavekmuseum.org/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 23 reviews

Pavek Museum of Broadcasting

Radio broadcasting is the focus of this museum, which is filled with old equipment and memorabilia.

Reviewed By 86ScottS

The Pavek Museum is a real hidden gem in the metro area. Anyone with an interest in or fascination of the early days of radio and television broadcasting will find much to see and learn about with a visit here. There are also other items to be found.....Telegraph machine, Edison phonograph, console radios, broadcasting microphones, one of the first magnetic tape recording machines used to record radio programs in the 1940’s. Check out the museum’s Hall of Fame, saluting many on-air personalities and other pioneering people involved in broadcasting, from all over Minnesota. The volunteer staff at the museum are well versed and knowledgeable. Children would enjoy the look back at how radio and TV started and became what it is now. There’s an interactive area for them to participate by ‘working’ in a newsroom and putting on a news broadcast as well as an old time radio quiz program.

7. American Swedish Institute

2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407-1090 +1 612-871-4907 [email protected] http://www.americanswedishinst.org/
Excellent
67%
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4.5 based on 495 reviews

American Swedish Institute

Founded in 1929 by Swan J. Turnblad, this castle serves as a combination historic house/museum that features exhibits and programs of the Swedish culture.

Reviewed By Netanders - Herndon, United States

My Swedish heritage friends and I came to have lunch (meatballs, of course) and tour the Viking exhibit. I liked the exhibit but was amazed by the mansion itself. It’s beautiful!

8. Foshay Tower

821 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402-2929 +1 651-296-6126 http://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/foshay-museum-observation-deck/3510
Excellent
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Good
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Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 277 reviews

Foshay Tower

After recent renovation, our museum and observation deck are now open seven days a week from 12:00pm-9:00pm. Weather permitting, both will be open year round.

Reviewed By terrencet960

I grew up in Minneapolis and I was always fascinated with a building that looked like the Washington Monument. It was constructed in 1906 and it was the tallest building between Chicago and the West Coast until the early 1970’s and was converted into a Hotel in 2008. This fall my wife a visited family and we were pleased to stay in this historic building. The hotel is very interesting, step into the elevators and jump back in time, the rooms have a wonderful view of the downtown (ask for an upper floor room) and the décor in the rooms are fun. Minneapolis is a great walking town, with walkways that connect most of the downtown, we were able to walked to the Twins baseball field which is about a mile way. Easy access to restaurants and shopping. You can also visit the Foshay museum and observation deck located on the 30th floor

9. Science Museum of Minnesota

120 Kellogg Blvd W, Saint Paul, MN 55102-1202 +1 651-221-9444 [email protected] http://new.smm.org
Excellent
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4.5 based on 1,112 reviews

Science Museum of Minnesota

The Science Museum of Minnesota is one of the state’s most popular museums, with a reach that extends well beyond its riverfront location in downtown Saint Paul. In addition to its beloved visitor place, which serves hundreds of thousands of people each year with its engaging exhibits, breathtaking giant screen films, and engaging special events, Science Museum education programs touch students in all of Minnesota’s 87 counties each year, and its research programs span the globe. Discovery awaits at the Science Museum of Minnesota! You’ll find something fascinating around every corner. We love to see the fun that our visitors have! Tag us in your photos @sciencemuseummn, or use #ShareYourDiscovery!

Reviewed By AdrienneM61 - Wichita, United States

We were actually there to visit the Mississippi National Riverway - which is located inside the Museum foyer. The foyer had a few exhibits that you could do without purchasing tickets to the very extensive museum - we LOVED the musical stairs, seriously...so incredibly cool and unique. We were a little short on time, so we had no intention on entering the museum, except a lady with her child had won tickets from an auction and had 4 more than they could use and asked if we would enjoy them, we graciously agreed. Huge thanks to that sweet lady. The museum is HUGE, we didn't get to do everything because again, it's huge! And the tickets included the IMAX film on Apollo 11 which was great! What we did get to do was very enjoyable, with several volunteer run stations where kids could make their own crafts or be part of an exhibit - very well done museum, enjoyable for kids and adults of ALL ages. If ever in the Twin Cities again, we will DEFINITELY return, to finish the rest of the museum!

10. The Bakken Museum

3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416-4623 +1 612-926-3878 [email protected] http://thebakken.org
Excellent
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4.5 based on 117 reviews

The Bakken Museum

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. A beautiful Gothic and Tudor Revival-style mansion, unique artifact and book collections, dynamic exhibits, and rich education experiences - we have something for every member of the family.

Reviewed By Doxiemama3 - Cambridge, United States

I had never even heard of Bakken Museum and was invited to join a group of other families with special needs kids. It was fantastic. The staff were accommodating, everything is handicapped accessible, the tour guide was incredibly interesting and made learning fun. I would recommend it for any age from 5-105. Fascinating!

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