Minneapolis is a city that was built because it had a river, and the river ran the mills. So it is only natural that there should be a museum called the Mill City Museum there, and that it should be built inside an old mill.
While I love the great museum of the world like the American History Museum in Washington D.C. and the British Museum in London, they are mostly removed from the history that they represent. I really love the idea of learning history in context and that is one of the best things about the Mill City Museum. In it you learn about the history of the Minneapolis mills, while you are inside a Minneapolis mill.
The Flour Tower
No place in the museum is this situated history more apparent then Flour Tower. When you come into the museum and get tickets you will be given a time to ride the Flour Tower. It is essentially a very large elevator with tiered seating. You ride it up and down the interior of the mill seeing reconstructed rooms and scenes from Minneapolis’s mill history.
At the end of the Flour Tower ride you will be let out at the top of the mill where you can see some of the actual surviving machinery in its original location. Then you can take a smaller elevator up to the observation area. From there you can look out on the river and see the old mills lining it.
Explore the Museum Exhibits
The benefit of having a museum that is focused on just one particular event or industry is that you get a very deep look into that focus. The Mill City Museum has exhibits all dedicated the history of the Minneapolis Mills and the companies that built them.
You will learn about the history of milling, as well as the rise and fall of the companies that ran the mills. This museum is aimed at children so there are lots of things you can touch and do. You can even make a cereal box at a giant stack of pancakes in front of a giant Bisquick Box.
I especially liked learning about the history of the Pillsbury Dough Boy, and watching the old commercials.
Learn in the Labs
There are two labs in the museum, a baking lab and a water lab. Unfortunately we did not really get to experience these labs fully because they were occupied by school groups most of the time we were there.
We were able to get a sample of cheese bread from the baking lab, and briefly see the water lab. If you can see them during your visit they will provide a more hands on learning experience.
Sum Up
The Mill City Museum is a fun place to visit and learn more about the history of Minneapolis and its connection with the mills. The cost to get into the museum is $12 per adult and $6 per child. It is a nice maintained museum. Plan on taking a couple of hours to visit.
