Museum Day – Cancelled in 2023

In 2023 Smithsonian Magazine announced that it would be pausing Museum Day this year. We’ll check back in 2024 to see if it resumes. In the meantime, many of the museums that participate each year are actually free or cheap year round.  We recommend picking a new museum and declaring your own Museum Day.

Start by perusing the 2022 participants, scroll through our list of Always Free Museums and other discounts, or use our big lists of Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota Museums:

• 65 Twin Cities Museums & Historic Sites
• 101 Minnesota Museums: Historic Sites to Visit with Kids

The Big Question. Is Museum Day Really A Good Deal?

In a lot of cases, no. Many participating museums are free or cheap year round and may require a road trip. In those cases, you may be happier visiting on a more convenient day. However, for other participants, Smithsonian’s Museum Day may be the only chance to see that museum for free. (Note that you only get ONE free ticket per email address, you may still end up paying for some family members). For Minnesota museums outside the Twin Cities Metro, we list the address, an approximate drive-time from the Twin Cities, and the prices you would pay any other day.

2022 Minnesota Museum Day Participants:

Twin Cities Metro Museums

Saint Paul Museum:

Hmong Cultural Center of Minnesota

375 University Avenue #204, St. Paul, MN 55103
Usual Admission: $5 person

Minneapolis Museums:

Hennepin History Museum

2303 3rd Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Usual Admission: Pay What You Can

Northwest Minnesota:

Shevlin, Minnesota

The History Center – Clearwater County

264 First Street W, Shevlin, MN 56676
Usual Admission: Free
Drive Time from Twin Cities: 4 Hours

Alexandria, Minnesota

Legacy of the Lakes Museum and Gardens

205 3rd Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308
Usual Admission: $5-$10 (Family Price $25)
Drive Time from Twin Cities: 2 Hours, 15 minutes

Southeast Minnesota:

Winona, Minnesota

Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM)

800 Riverview Drive, Winona, MN 55987
Usual Admission: $5-$10 (Under Age 5 FREE)
Drive Time from Twin Cities: 2 Hours, 15 minutes

Museums & Historical Sites that are Always Free:

Free Museums in Minneapolis:

• Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
• Weisman Art Museum*
• Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
• Ard Godfrey House
• Minnehaha Regional Park Historical Sites – Princess Depot, Longfellow House & Garden, John H. Stevens House
• Theodore Wirth House

 Free Museums in St. Paul

• Landmark Center Museums
  • Gallery of Wood Art
  • Schubert Club and Music Museum
• Goldstein Museum of Design*
• Minnesota Museum of American Art
• Minnesota State Capital

Twin Cities Metro Free Museums

• New Brighton History Center
• Washington County Historic Courthouse
• Holz Farm Park, Eagan
• Edina History Museum
• Pond-Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington
• Historic Wayzata Depot & Wayzata Historical Society Museum

*University of Minnesota Museums

4 More Ways to Find Free and Cheap Museum Admission

1. Museums On Us at Participating Museums (for Bank of America Customers only)
2. Minnesota Blue Star Museums – Free Admission for Military Families
3. Our Museums & Historic Sites page shares FREE ADMISSON DAYS and best deals on area museums year round and check our calendar to be reminded of free days throughout the year.
4. The Gift of Science from the Science Museum: Memberships & Income-Based Discounts

 

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