Institute of Arts allowed it to redesign all of its galleries
and greatly expand the displays of its extraordinary art
collection. Next door to the museum, the Tony Award
winning Children’s Theatre also expanded recently,
adding a second stage for productions aimed at
preschoolers and teens. On the University of Minnesota
campus, the shiny aluminum façade of the Weisman Art
Museum stands out on the riverbank.
The widely acclaimed Guthrie Theater moved to a
new, three-stage center on the Mississippi riverfront in
2006. This indigo-clad architectural landmark features
spectacular views of the river, in addition to great
theater. Next door is the Mill City Museum, built within
the limestone ruins of an old mill; it tells stories from the
period from the 1880s to1930s when Minneapolis was
the flour milling capital of the country. Nearby, other
abandoned mills and warehouses have been transformed
into trendy condo lofts.
This scenic riverfront area is a greenway of parks,
trails and historic buildings. Guided walking tours
explore the riverfront, the stately Stone
Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls.
Other tours of the historic riverfront
use Segway scooters to get around. The
Minneapolis Queen excursion boat leaves from
Boom Island for narrated tours on the Mississippi.
Downtown Minneapolis centers on the Nicollet
Mall, a pedestrian/transit mall lined with shops. The
Mall is anchored at one end by Orchestra Hall, home to
the renowned Minnesota Orchestra. The Hennepin
Theatre District includes three beautifully renovated,
early 1900s theaters that host a variety of performances.
Minneapolis has the largest skyway system in the world;
these second-level indoor walkways link more than 70
blocks of hotels, shops and businesses.
On the north side of downtown, the historic
Warehouse District is brimming with restaurants,
nightclubs, art galleries and coffee houses. Also here is
Target Center, with a full schedule of concerts and other
performances; it’s the home court for Timberwolves and
Lynx basketball, as well. The Minnesota Twins moved to
their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, in 2010. Also
downtown is the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,
where the Vikings play.
It’s well worth it for visitors to explore the “City of
Lakes” beyond the downtown area. The beautiful Grand
Rounds Scenic Byway of roads, bike trails and walking
paths loops around Minneapolis, encircling the Chain of
Lakes and following Minnehaha Creek and the
Mississippi River; Minnehaha Falls is a highlight along
The Hiawatha Light-Rail Transit line,
12 miles long, connects downtown Minneapolis
with the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport and Mall of
America in Bloomington. For more information,
call 612-373-3333 or see www.metrotransit.org.
this route. The funky and fun Uptown (Hennepin and
Lake streets) and nearby Lyn-Lake (Lyndale and Lake
streets) neighborhoods both have theaters, coffee houses
and an array of shops and restaurants.
Newer residents from Somalia, Mexico and other
countries have revitalized many Minneapolis
neighborhoods, and an eclectic assortment of ethnic
eateries can be found on Nicollet Avenue (dubbed “Eat
Street”) and Lake Street in south Minneapolis. The
Midtown Global Market on Lake Street has several
ethnic restaurants and delis under one roof. Northeast
Minneapolis also features an assortment of restaurants,
and is home to an active arts community, with several
studios and galleries.
Minneapolis is home to several unique and
interesting museums: the American Swedish Institute,
the Museum of Russian Art, the Bakken Museum of
Electricity, and the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting, in
adjacent St. Louis Park.
Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
