Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, MN, is built within the historic ruins of the Washburn A Mill, offering an interactive journey through the city’s flour milling and industrial past. Located along the scenic Mississippi Riverfront, the museum features hands-on exhibits, a Flour Tower ride, and breathtaking views from the observation deck. As a top cultural destination, Mill City Museum provides a unique look at Minneapolis’ role as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World.”
History Museum
Mill City Museum
2735 Google Reviews
Arrived at 10AM Sunday morning as they opened. Started with a very entertaining short film narrated by a local comedian on the history of Minneapolis and the mills. Took the Elevator to the observation platform 9 floors up led to an amazing view of the city, river and waterfall. We saw a demonstration about dust explosions and learned a lot about the displays from the volunteers. We really enjoyed our time here.
3/22/25 – Wife and I came here after visiting bell museum and walker art museum.
Mill city museum was our last museum of the day and it was the best one we went to this day. I did not expect this museum to be like this. They had water control models and valves you can play with. We also did the tour and it was not what I expected. It was fun going up and down the elevator, which I didn’t expect a tour to be like, also learning about the history of the mill was fun and educational. After the history lesson in the elevator, I thought it was over but we went to the top floor and that was the best part, going all the way to the top to get the best view of the city, river, and stone arch bridge.
Mill city museum was our last museum of the day and it was the best one we went to this day. I did not expect this museum to be like this. They had water control models and valves you can play with. We also did the tour and it was not what I expected. It was fun going up and down the elevator, which I didn’t expect a tour to be like, also learning about the history of the mill was fun and educational. After the history lesson in the elevator, I thought it was over but we went to the top floor and that was the best part, going all the way to the top to get the best view of the city, river, and stone arch bridge.
Mill City Museum is a must-see! The main gallery is incredibly well done, offering a deep dive into the history of milling and the role it played in Minneapolis.
One of the highlights is the interactive room featuring models of turbines, the river, and the mills; it really helps visualize how everything worked together. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the museum wasn’t too crowded, making for a relaxed and enjoyable visit. Highly recommend for history lovers and curious minds alike!
One of the highlights is the interactive room featuring models of turbines, the river, and the mills; it really helps visualize how everything worked together. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the museum wasn’t too crowded, making for a relaxed and enjoyable visit. Highly recommend for history lovers and curious minds alike!
Exceptional museum. It was such a nice surprise to have the elevator ride / tour and the view from the top. The guides were eager to provide interesting facts and tidbits while you stroll the exhibit. We even had free snacks at the test kitchen. A must visit when staying in Minneapolis.
The highlight was the observation deck on the top. A great view of the city and Mississippi River. The exhibition center place was not huge but interesting. The staff here were very friendly and helpful as well.
Interesting museum with so much history that shaped the food we eat today. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the content. We visited on a weekday when school groups were in attendance and the staff helped work us around the groups so our experience was still great. Learned so many interesting facts about Gold Medal, Pillsbury, and General Mills.
This is one of the best museums I’ve ever been to! It is really well done and well kept, the docents are passionate and eager to interact and the exhibits are really interesting. It’s beautifully designed and has many interactive elements for kids and adults. The Flour Tower is the most unique experience I’ve ever had at a museum and I also loved the dust explosion demo, the test kitchen, the historic movie and the observation deck. What a gem!
I’ve been to Mill City Museum twice and would definitely recommend it if you’re visiting Minneapolis! The experience is both fun and educational — you get to learn about the city’s history in an interactive way. One of the highlights is the beautiful view from the observatory, which is perfect for photos and taking in the cityscape. A must-visit spot for anyone exploring the area!
