Address: 345 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102, USA
Upcoming Events: Jump to Minnesota History Center Events
Website Minnesota History Center
Hours
Wed: 10am-4pm
Thurs: 10am-8pm
Fri-Sun: 10am-4pm
Experience a day of educational and interactive fun with your family at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. From exhibits on Minnesota’s history to hands-on activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! We promise, this is a very family-friendly museum with plenty to touch, play with, learn about and even climb on.
If you find your family gravitating toward a particular subject, The Minnesota Historical Society, who maintains the museum, may have options for digging deeper at other sites (they maintain 26 historical sites and museums total) or in the Gale Library, which is attached to the history center and free to visit.
Upcoming family friendly events at the Minnesota History Center
Top things for kids at the Minnesota History Center
The permanent and rotating exhibits at the Minnesota History Center were designed with the whole family in mind. Here are the top things our family feels you won’t want to miss when you visit:
Minnesota’s Greatest Generation
This exhibit explores the experiences of those who lived through such defining eras as the Great Depression and World War 2. These would be relatives your children perhaps did not get a chance to meet, people us moms and dads may fondly remember as grandparents who are no longer with us. At the Minnesota History Center, kids travel back to the 1930s and ’40s, playing at being soda jerks at an old-school drugstore, watching movie clips at the theater, packing war materials on an assembly line and for those up to it (mature theme – use discretion) even experiencing an intense simulated flight on D-Day.
Then Now Wow
The THEN NOW WOW exhibit playfully captures those “WOW” moments in Minnesota history — from the pioneer hardships to explosive discoveries on the Iron Range. My kids have enjoyed hunkering down in the prairie sod house during a storm, bartering with the agent on duty at the fur post and riding a streetcar through bygone St Paul.
Weather Permitting
WEATHER PERMITTINGÂ walks you safely through a tornado that hit the Twin Cities suburban community of Fridley in 1965 (again: can evoke some jitters in younger kids when the lights go out and the sirens start in, but it’s a mild thrill for the older ones.)
Grainland – closed in 2025
The GRAINLAND exhibit allowed kids to scramble up and around a replica grain elevator, teaching kids the farm-to-table story. This was a long-running exhibit, beloved by many a family, and a welcome chance for kids to work their wiggles out within the museum. We hope its replacement offers a similar opportunity.
Exciting temporary exhibits
The Minnesota History Center is always showcasing limited-time exhibitions that, naturally, involve a link to the stories of our state. Some links are stronger than others, but most exhibits involve components of interest to kids. You can find a list of the temporary exhibits offered here.
What’s FREE at the Minnesota History Center?
Free Thursday Nights
The Minnesota History Center is free Thursday evenings between 4pm and 8pm, including both admission and parking! During this time, visitors can experience all of the regular exhibits and sometimes there are special events or features, including lectures and concerts. RSVP in advance to expedite your entrance to the History Center.
Irvine Gallery
In 2018, the FREE Irvine Gallery opened. This rotating exhibit explores community stories and issues affecting Minnesotans today. The 678-square foot space on the museum’s first floor showcases MNHS-developed exhibits as well as exhibits created by outside organizations. Entrance to the Irvine Gallery is free, and the gallery is open during regular History Center hours.
Gale Family Library
The Gale Family Research Library holds Minnesota Historical Society archives and resources. It is dedicated to the history of Minnesota and Minnesota family lineage. If you are interested in learning about your family or doing a research project, this library is a great resource. There is no fee to use the library. Keep in mind that the library is non-circulating, so you can’t check the information out and return it.
More free admission options
The Minnesota History Center is not generally free to enjoy, but there are some free exhibits, occasional free programs and other free offerings. Note that current regular admission is about $15/adults, $12/seniors, veterans & college students and $8/kids up to 17.
- Children ages 4 and under and Minnesota History Society members are always FREE.
- The History Center participate in the Bank of America Museums on Us program. During the first weekend of each month, Bank of America cardholders can get free admission.
- Minnesota Historical Society members receive FREE admission. We consider this one of the better membership options for families and a great experience gift. A current household membership for adults and all residing children is about $105 – keep in mind all the other terrific sites in and around the Twin Cities to explore this pass includes.
We hope your family enjoys an opportunity to discover the rich history of Minnesota at the Minnesota History Center! Whether it’s the interactive exhibits or special events, we would love to hear your thoughts, reviews and helpful tips for parents.Â
More information
- Ticket link:Â Pre-purchase Minnesota History Center tickets
- Parking: Information & directions
- Upcoming events: Find upcoming Minnesota History Center events
Related content
Share Your Experience/Tips:
We would love to hear your thoughts and parental tips. Share your experiences and any information you think other parents would find useful. Leave us a comment below.Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
- Minnesota History Center Thursday Nights (FREE) - 05/21/2026 - 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
- Chasing Wildflowers at the Minnesota History Center - 08/02/2025 - 2:00 pm
- Free Admission Day at Minnesota History Center - 04/25/2026 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.
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