Mill City Museum

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!