Come along with FFTC as we start dreaming about packing up the family van and hauling its members across our fair state, sampling local history and culture as the miles roll away and the memories rack up. Our team is happiest when we’re out exploring and almost as happy to come back from family excursions to share our finds with YOU! You’ll never guess how much fun we had compiling this list of more than 100 Minnesota museums and historic sites worth adding to your road trip itinerary.
Thanks to our Summer Fun Guide Partner
Twin Cities Metro Area,
Minneapolis-St Paul Museums & Historic Sites
The Minneapolis-St Paul area is “home” to our Family Fun Twin Cities Team, made up of three local moms, their partners and 12 children between them. We have spent the last eleven years exploring and writing about the wonderful, kid-friendly museums and historic sites sprinkled across the metro area. We are so excited to share the details on dozens of these sites in our careful catalog of TWIN CITIES MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES – complete with our touch of personal experience and money-saving tips. Find our quick list here, organized by region of the metro:
Minneapolis & St Paul Central Metro Museums
- ALEXANDER RAMSEY HOUSE
- AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE
- ARD GODFREY HOUSE
- BAKKEN MUSEUM
- BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
- FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF MINNEAPOLIS
- FIREFIGHTERS HALL AND MUSEUM
- FORT SNELLING (HISTORIC FORT SNELLING)
- GALLERY OF WOOD ART
- GERMANIC AMERICAN INSTITUTE
- GOLDSTEIN MUSEUM OF DESIGN
- HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM
- JAMES J HILL HOUSE
- JULIAN R SLEEPER HOUSE MUSEUM
- LANDMARK CENTER
- MILL CITY MUSEUM
- MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
- MINNEHAHA REGIONAL PARK HISTORIC SITES
- MINNESOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM & GALLERY
- MINNESOTA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
- MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER
- MINNESOTA MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
- MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL
- MINNESOTA STREETCAR MUSEUM – COMO HARRIET LINE
- MINNESOTA TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM – JACKSON STREET ROUNDHOUSE
- MUSEUM OF RUSSIAN ART
- SCHUBERT CLUB MUSIC MUSEUM
- SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA
- SOMALI MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA
- THEODORE WIRTH HOUSE
- TWIN CITY MODEL RAILROAD MUSEUM
- WALKER ART CENTER & MINNEAPOLIS SCULPTURE GARDEN
- WEISMAN ART MUSEUM
Twin Cities North Metro Museums & Historic Sites
- ANOKA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
- EIDEM FARM
- FILLEBROWN HOUSE
- GAMMELGARDEN MUSEUM
- GIBBS FARM
- HAY LAKE SCHOOL MUSEUM & ERICKSON LOG HOME
- NEW BRIGHTON HISTORY CENTER
- OLIVER KELLEY FARM
- PIERRE BOTTINEAU HOUSE
Twin Cities East Metro Museums & Historic Sites
- BRUENTRUP HERITAGE FARM
- OSCEOLA & ST CROIX VALLEY RAILWAY
- WARDEN’S HOUSE MUSEUM
- WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORIC COURTHOUSE
Twin Cities South Metro Museums & Historic Sites
- DAKOTA CITY HERITAGE VILLAGE
- HOLZ FARM PARK
- LEDUC HISTORIC ESTATE
- SIBLEY HISTORIC SITE
- STANS MUSEUM – SCOTT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
- THE LANDING – MINNESOTA RIVER HERITAGE PARK
Twin Cities West Metro Museums & Historic Sites
- CHARLES BURWELL HOUSE
- EDINA HISTORY MUSEUM
- GIDEON POND HOUSE – POND DAKOTA MISSION PARK
- GRIMM FARM HISTORIC SITE
- MINNESOTA STREETCAR MUSEUM – EXCELSIOR LINE
- PAVEK MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING
- THE WORKS MUSEUM
- WAYZATA DEPOT & MUSEUM
GREATER MINNESOTA MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES
Greater Minnesota bursts with educational (and fun!) museums and sites of historical and cultural significance. We’ll have you planning a road trip by the end of this list!
Duluth & Lake Superior North Shore
- DULUTH CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
- GLENSHEEN MANSION: THE HISTORIC CONGDON ESTATE
- GRAND PORTAGE NATIONAL MONUMENT (GRAND PORTAGE)
- GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM
- LAKE SUPERIOR MARITIME VISITOR CENTER
- LAKE SUPERIOR RAILROAD MUSEUM
- SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE (TWO HARBORS)
- WILLIAM A IRVIN ORE BOAT MUSEUM
MINNESOTA FAMILY TRAVEL TIPS! Most of these Duluth museums & historic sites are covered on our DULUTH TRAVEL PAGE.
IRON RANGE – NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES
- CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM (GRAND RAPIDS)
- FOREST HISTORY CENTER (GRAND RAPIDS)
- HILL ANNEX MINE (BIGFORK)
- HOCKEY HALL OF FAME – UNITED STATES (EVELETH)
- INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER (ELY)
- MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER: MUSEUM OF THE IRON RANGE (CHISHOLM)Â
- MINNESOTA MUSEUM OF MINING (CHISHOLM)
- NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER (ELY)
- SOUDAN UNDERGROUND MINE (TOWER)
Northwestern Minnesota Museums & Historic Sites
- COMSTOCK HOUSE (MOORHEAD)
- HEADWATERS SCIENCE CENTER (BEMIDJI)
- HJEMKOMST CENTER (MOORHEAD)
- ITASCA STATE PARK HISTORIC SITES
- PAUL BUNYAN HISTORICAL MUSEUM (AKELEY)
Central Minnesota Museums & Historic sites
- CHARLES LINDBERGH HOUSE & MUSEUM (LITTLE FALLS)
- MINNESOTA FISHING MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME (LITTLE FALLS)
- PAUL BUNYANLAND & THIS OLD FARM PIONEER VILLAGE (BRAINERD)
- RUNESTONE MUSEUM (ALEXANDRIA)
- STEARNS HISTORY MUSEUM (ST CLOUD)Â
East Central Minnesota Museums & Historic sites
- HINCKLEY FIRE MUSEUM
- MILLE LACS INDIAN MUSEUM & TRADING POST (ONAMIA)
- MOOSE LAKE AGATE & GEOLOGICAL CENTER (MOOSE LAKE)
- RURAL SCHOOL MUSEUM (PINE CITY)
- SNAKE RIVER FUR POST (PINE CITY)
MINNESOTA FAMILY TRAVEL TIPS! Some of these East Central Minnesota museums & historic sites are covered on our I-35 TWIN CITIES TO DULUTH TRAVEL PAGE.
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Heading SOUTH?
South Central Minnesota Museums & Historic Sites
- AUGUST SCHELL BREWERY MUSEUM & GARDENS (NEW ULM)
- BETSY-TACY SOCIETY MUSEUMS (MANKATO)
- CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA (MANKATO)
- FORT RIDGELY (FAIRFAX)
- HARKIN STORE (NEW ULM)
- LOWER SIOUX AGENCY (MORTON)
- TREATY SITE HISTORY CENTER (ST PETER)
- WHEEL & COG CHILDREN’S MUSEUM (HUTCHINSON)
- W.W. MAYO HOUSE (ST PETER)
MINNESOTA FAMILY TRAVEL TIPS! Most of these South Central Minnesota museums & historic sites are covered on our lists of the best things to do in MANKATO, MINNESOTA and NEW ULM, MINNESOTA.
Southeastern Minnesota Museums & Historic Sites
- HISTORIC FORESTVILLE (PRESTON)
- INTERNATIONAL OWL CENTER (HOUSTON)
- NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER (WABASHA)
- RED WING AREA MUSEUMS
- SCHECH’S MILL (CALEDONIA)
- SPAM MUSEUM (AUSTIN)
- SPARK – CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ROCHESTER
Southwestern Minnesota Museums & Historic Sites
- END-O-LINE RAILROAD PARK & MUSEUM (CURRIE)
- JEFFERS PETROGLYPHS (COMFREY)
- LAURA INGALLS WILDER MUSEUM (WALNUT GROVE)
- PIPESTONE NATIONAL MONUMENT
- WHEELS ACROSS THE PRAIRIE MUSEUM (TRACY)
My kids love the Bell Museum. Can you recommend similar small and hands-one museums that school age kids will enjoy?
Danielle, this is a great question. Hands on is so important with school age kids. Most of these museums offer some level of interaction. Our top picks: Right here in the Twin Cities, you should try both The Bakken and the Works for STEM-related museums. The Schubert Club Museum is awesome for hands-on music. And many of the MNHS Historical Places are both small and hands on.