Mill City Museum

We absolutely adored this museum (and I am really not a museum lover). We loved the quirky introduction Video that gave an overview of the city throughout the years and how the flour mill fit into the economic growth of the city.
All of the “artifacts” were so nostalgic and brought back so many fun memories of days gone by! Our kids 17, 14 & 11 loved all of the interactive activities (not just cool for little kids). My daughter and I loved putting together the large wooden block puzzle.
The highlight though is the tower tour…think Tower of Terror without the drop and the terror haha! It was set up in a similar fashion with nostalgic scenes of the flour mill how it would have looked in its prime and also people’s accounts/voices that actually worked there, sharing their memories! It was so intriguing!
Do not hesitate going to this museum! It was such a fun and unique experience.

We had a fantastic time at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis. It’s built right into the ruins of an old flour mill, which gives it a really unique and historic atmosphere. The museum does a great job of telling the story of how Minneapolis became the flour milling capital of the world.

The Flour Tower ride was an awesome experience. It’s an elevator-style tour that stops at different levels and shows what life was like when the mill was running.👌👌

There are a lot of hands-on exhibits, You can even learn about baking and water power in really interactive ways.

rooftop observation deck—the views of the Mississippi River and the Stone Arch Bridge are absolutely.
Convenient paid parking is available nearby

Set on the scenic banks of the Mississippi River, Minneapolis’s Mill City Museum is a striking fusion of industrial ruin, architectural innovation, and regional history—and easily one of the most memorable cultural destinations in the Midwest.

From the moment you approach the museum, you’re greeted by the towering remains of the Washburn “A” Mill, once the largest flour mill in the world and the beating heart of Minneapolis’s late 19th-century identity as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World.” The iconic “Gold Medal Flour” sign still sits proudly atop the historic grain elevators, a nostalgic beacon linking the city’s modern energy to its industrious past.

The structure itself is a work of art: a masterclass in adaptive reuse. The museum integrates preserved stone ruins of the original mill—some walls charred and scarred by past fires and explosions—with sleek glass-and-steel walkways and modern installations. From the outdoor courtyard and the massive glass façade etched with mill schematics, visitors are literally walking through history, surrounded by ghost traces of what once was.

Inside, the museum captures the ingenuity and grit of Minneapolis’s industrial age. The preserved machinery, gears, pulleys, and antique steam engines are fascinating in their own right—but they’re made more compelling by thoughtful interpretation. From vintage tractors to flour sifters, each artifact tells a story of labor, technology, and transformation. The immersive exhibits, such as the Flour Tower elevator show (which re-creates the life of the mill), add a dramatic and cinematic dimension to the visit.

A particular highlight is the view from the observation deck. It offers sweeping panoramas of the Mississippi River and the Stone Arch Bridge, with its elegant curves and pedestrian-friendly path, linking past to present. It’s a spot that invites reflection—on the river that powered the mills and on the city that rose from them.

The museum doesn’t just celebrate machinery—it celebrates people. Exhibits thoughtfully highlight the lives of mill workers, immigrants, and women who shaped the milling industry, making this not just an architectural experience, but a deeply human one.

Whether you’re a history buff, architecture lover, or simply looking for a unique and enriching afternoon in Minneapolis, Mill City Museum delivers. It’s a rare place where ruins speak, machines hum stories, and the Mississippi keeps flowing—as it always has—just outside.

Fun museum with lots to look at and an amazing viewing deck. The elevator tour was quirky and enjoyable, only running about 10 minutes long, leaving lots of time to explore the rest of the museum. Everyone working there was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. I’ll definitely be back!

This was a good museum. I especially liked the elevator tour. You travel up and down the building in an elevator to see the different floors and hear stories of what it was like to work in the mill through recordings of actual workers. The view from the top floor is excellent.

Arrived at 10AM Sunday morning as they opened. Started with a very entertaining short film narrated by a local comedian on the history of Minneapolis and the mills. Took the Elevator to the observation platform 9 floors up led to an amazing view of the city, river and waterfall. We saw a demonstration about dust explosions and learned a lot about the displays from the volunteers. We really enjoyed our time here.

Enjoyed my museum visit here. The flour tower tour was an interesting concept where you get to ride the elevator up and down and learn along the way. Wished the museum offers a little bit more hands on types of things like being able to operate the various equipments to get a taste of how it was like rather than only seeing or reading about it.
The view on the observation deck floor is great!

Very good museum with some wonderful views of the Mississippi River. Be sure to take the elevator to the top for the views. The inside displays explain the history of the area and about the flour powerhouses of their time. Well worth several hours of time to visit.