From Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat to its many exhibits and 9th floor Observation Deck, there is much to explore at the Mill City Museum. Be sure to make time for dining and shopping in D’ Amico & Sons Café and the Museum Store.
Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat
Start your visit to the Mill City Museum with an entertaining take on Minneapolis, written and staring local Minneapolis humorist, playwright and radio personality Kevin Kling. Minneapolis in 19 Minutes uses photos, video and television footage, Kling’s own stories and memories, and animation to explore the history of Minneapolis, from who started the city to how it got its name.
Exhibit Gallery
The Mill City Museum features exhibits about the history of Minneapolis and the flour mill. The Museum also houses a baking lab. Meet costumed interpreters who portray pivotal characters from Minneapolis’ past, or watch a model mill explode during a demonstration that shows how flour dust caused the deadly A Mill blast of 1878. Smells of freshly baked bread will lure you into the baking lab.
Flour Tower Multimedia Show
At the core of the Exhibit Gallery is the Flour Tower multimedia show. Take the Flour Tower 8-story elevator ride and see the history of the mill unfold before your eyes. The voices of individuals who worked in the Washburn A Mill can be heard throughout the show, sharing stories of their experiences in the mill.
9th Floor Observation Deck
Climb (or ride) to the 9th Floor Observation Deck and delight in beautiful views of St. Anthony Falls and the Mississippi River. A sign reading “Gold Medal Flour” still shines at night atop the adjoining grain elevator. Across the river, the former competitor Pillsbury A-Mill is topped with a sign reading “Pillsbury’s Best Flour.”
Dining at D’ Amico & Sons Café
Take a break at D’ Amico & Sons Café at the Mill City Museum, featuring Italian gourmet creations in a casual café setting. Additionally, D’ Amico & Sons offers private-label food products and imported Italian specialities.
Shopping in Mill City Museum Store
Be sure to stop by the Mill City Museum Store to shop for unique gifts and keepsakes like locally-made pottery, jewelry, cards, prints and treats. Cooking enthusiasts can browse through various essential cookbooks and kitchen accessories, while history buffs are sure to find something interesting to read from the Museum Store’s wide selection of historical books. Mid-20th-century retro items including aprons, toys and cookbooks are also sold in store.
- The Mill City Museum is ADA complaint. Complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Museum’s ticket desk.
- Look for unique works of art by local and regional artists, woven throughout the Mill City Museum and its exhibits. Featured artists include Joann Verburg, Tom Maakestad, Kim Lawler, Kathleen Richert, Paul Wrench and Becky Schurmann.