Mill City Museum Reviews

Mill City Museum is very interesting and really tells the story and importance of milling in early Minneapolis.

We toured the Mill City Museum on our recent trip to Minneapolis and found it a great way to learn about the history of this city. It is entertaining and informative. There are hands on activities for kids and adults.

The history of the flour industry in Minneapolis is well told and demonstrated in this museum. We especially enjoyed the interactive areas and the baking lab (thanks for the bread recipe!) Interesting displays of old machines and processes were fascinating. The Flour Tower tour by elevator was not operating on the day of our visit, so we ended up with a private tour that did some "extra" things as a substitute. We got to see a demonstration of how flour dust can create a huge explosion (which was a real danger in those days and did occur here in 1878), saw some of the surviving equipment from the fire that destroyed most of the building (in 1991, 26 yrs. after it was abandoned) , and went to the top floor landing for a lovely view of St. Anthony Falls and the river. Our guide was knowledgeable and informative. Amazing to consider that at its heyday, this was the largest concentration of flour mills in the world. A real piece of Minneapolis history that is well worth your time.

This museum had a lot of interesting things to do and see. We came as an extended family. There was a video, a tour that was kind of a ride, lots of displays, and activities for the kids to do. It was kind of expensive and we didn't have a ton of time, but I think we were glad we did it.

My wife and received tickets to the museum form our Segway ride. Amazing history and wonderful presentation of what happened during the Flour Mill times in Minneapolis. Even more amazing is during the summer in the open area they perform operas. If we had known I would have definitely purchased tickets and attended.

It's fine for children, if they understand the full history of the building, and the value of historic preservation. For my kids, I took them around the exterior of the building first, so they were able to have a more genuine experience.

It is an important site for Minneapolis history.

What a great way to learn the history of millingIn Minnesota, from the everyday to the horribly dangerous. And a fun collection of cookbooks too. Even I, a big believer in Twin Cities history and bragging rights, learned a mountain of new information!

Until this week I saw Minneapolis only as a city made famous by the Twins, Vikings, Wild, Timberwolves and Lynx - that is until I stumbled upon the Mill District and the adjacent Bridges. What an amazing history, innovation and progress! And the Mill City Museum has something for "children" of all ages!

Went to this museum today in the old General Mills flour mill. Not only was it informative of the history in Minneapolis but the displays were creative and appealing to adults and/or kids. The guides stationed around the museum were very knowledgeable and helpful. The ride/guided tour in the old freight elevator was amazing. Definitely would recommend this to all.. Go to the top in glass elevator to see a great view.

This is a very well designed and operated museum.
We stopped in while we were waiting for our restaurant reservations and we delighted we did! The video presentation is a great education into the beginnings of Minneapolis and the tour using a classroom size elevator is fascinating and offers a great insight into life (and dangers) working in a floor mill.
We will return when we have more time to explore the museum. Allow at least 3 hours to take in this gem.

Casually, we didn't expect too much when planning to visit Mill City Museum. But we were blown away by the details of the exhibits and the access given to parts of the building. I could've spent hours sitting on the observation deck relaxing with a book--as the view was incredible and peaceful.

Adding to my leasurely stroll, I ventured into the museum, the history and artifacts brought to life what my walk may of look like back in the day. I recommend a visit, the exhibits snhances your appreciation and walk about experience.

Whenever i have out of town visitors, I bring them here. An elevator-led tour up a tower gives you the history and overview of the process. Well-trained and professional docents provide clear presentations that appeal to all ages. Portions of the tour are self-guided, with fun, hands-on exhibits for the young as well as more involved exhibits for adults who love history.

Wonderful, historic site that has a variety of exhibits that visitors can select from. Public restrooms are available on the main level. if you go on a Saturday, there is a fantastic farmers market that connects into the museum.

Neat place to see and cool area surrounding. Walked the arch bridge after the tour. Could be done quickly or at your leisure. Lots to see and read. Did have a neat hands-on area for younger kids that we did not go in. Also had a demo bakery on site to walk through and watch baking demos.

I'm interested in family history and knowing the role of the flour industry, I thought their unique Christmas production would prove insightful to the times that my Grandfather made his was to Minneapolis from Sweden in 1911. The museum displays, and production that seats the audience in the industrial elevator and has vignettes on the various floors proved to be a delight. The production is low key with no need to dress up.

The access from 35W was painless and parking is available on the street and in nearby ramps. If you are attending an event at MCM, check the Guthrie website to determine if they are also hosting a production in the same timeframe that may impede your travel and parking considerations.

I will definitely make another stop at MCM in the summer time to walk along the waterfront or to take in the rooftop observation deck of MCM. I would also be interested to know if historic employee records are kept at the museum or within the MN Historical Society archives.

Thanks for a great historic taste of the times of the Minneapolis flour industry!

We parked in the garage across the street $5 for over an hour; paid at the kiosk on first floor when left. Price is based on time. Walked in at cost was $12 for each adult they did have discounts for seniors/veterans/kids. The flour tower was unique and a fun way to see the history. We then watch the 19 min show; love it too. Then having the water lab which is hands on; Baking lab and general area. They did a very good job. Almost forgot the observation desk to see the MS river and Saint Anthony falls was great.

The history behind many products we consume today such as Bisquick, Wheaties, Betty Crocker mixes,etc., was fascinating. The elevator presentation to the flour tower was extremely interesting. The museum is family friendly, from toddlers to grandparents.

The grounds of the mill are beautiful and the view is even better when you're at the top after taking the elevator tour. It was fun to see how the mill worked and to hear the voices of those that worked there in the past. This is a fun tour for people of all ages and helps educate you on what the industry once was in Minneapolis.

We enjoyed the interactive activities and learning about the history of the milling industry. We liked the elevator ride. The views of the city is excellent.

This place is geared more towards kids, but I did appreciate the viewing deck, the flour elevator history ride, the free kitchen snacks, and the flour explosion demo. Who knew that flour dust could cause a fire?!

This museum contains several interactive and other types of exhibits showcasing the city's connection to the flour mill industry. There are some really good hands-on things for little kids as well as a unique elevator ride tour. Go as high up as you can! The view's great.

Great museum to visit. Located in an old flour mill it does a great job of telling you the history of Minneapolis. And you get a great view of the river from the top floor.

I didn’t think my family and three young boys would be very interested in this museum but we ended up having a fantastic time and all learned a lot! We went on the flour tour where my kids enjoyed riding the elevator type thing all the way up and also enjoyed the show. The views from the top of the building were really cool and they loved playing with the water tables in the basement that mimicked a dam. We happened to be there on Saturday morning so all of us really enjoyed walking through the farmers market before we hit the museum. Beautiful flowers, some bakery items and gluten-free treats and lots of fruits and veggies. Highly recommend!

It was a nice museum I like it .very good price for the value u get a lot of information about the flour mill factory fun for kids

We had a great time at the Mill City Museum. Enjoyed learning the history and all the information at the centers. Especially enjoyed the walking tour.

Unique location for a wedding's meet and greet. It was closed to the public due to the party, and was able see some of the artwork and history while there.

We took a tour of the Viking Stadium and afterwards found this place just down the street. We did the tour which was informative about the mill's history. It took us to the top of the tower where we had a great view of the city.

We checked out the Mill City Museum on a sunny Saturday afternoon. We bought tickets & received a map in which they noted the times we should be in certain areas. It is a self guided tour throughout, along with a movie feature & elevator ride/show to the observation deck. It wasn't too busy, which was nice. We could take our time reading the exhibits. There were some hands on activities for older kids. My favorite part was the elevator ride up the Flour Tower. It gave you an idea of what conditions were like, told by former workers. At the top was the observation deck, where a tour guide provided some more anecdotes. That was the most engaging part of the museum for my group. We were then able to get some amazing views of the Mississippi River & the Stone Arch Bridge (I would suggest popping over to the Guthrie right next door to check out their views as well- it's free to stop in!).

This is one of my favorite places to take people who come to Minneapolis from out of town. The story of the flour and the flour Mills to the city is very interesting... if you are interested ask anyone who works there about a flour explosion

The elevator ride was nice, (loved the great views from the balcony), we got free samples of brownies and bread at the Betty Crocker kitchen, and my boys liked the water room. Lots to look at and read in a small space, we spent 3 hours here.

We choose the Mill City Museum area for our post wedding pictures and they turned out amazing. The juxtaposition of old and new, past history and a new beginning was perfect.

The museum is located in an old flour mill and so much fun to see. I really enjoyed it and the views of the river are magnificent. I found most of the employees to be very helpful (exception was the rude lady that sold me the ticket)

The history of the flour mills in the city. Plenty of displays to read. The flour tower is a 10 minute elevator ride with "movie" clips of the mill and you end up on the observation deck overlooking the river. Then you can walk around the outside. $12 per adult.

We were pleasantly surprised. Lots of interactive history here. I also love the way they built new around the old. They do a seated ride in an elevator kind of reminded me of the Tower of Terror without scares and drops but the elevator opening and closing and moving to different floors telling the story of the mill days. Also some great veiw of the river from the tower.

We travel in a 26 foot class b plus rv and have been able to park just about anywhere.Sadly however we scoured the vicinity to find a spot but no luck!

The facility is really interesting. They did a great job with catering our event. They had a jazz band in the outside garden area. From the roof you can see the river. The tour is fascinating. Well worth your time.

Very well designed museum to the flour mill heritage of the city. The museum is at the partial ruin and rebuilt flour mill. A creative exhibit uses a freight elevator ride to show you how a flour mill worked. Excellent staff and great view on the roof.

The museum itself doesn’t offer that much on the story of flour milling but does hit the importance of the industry in the development of Minneapolis. I learned a lot from that. Very cool that they turned a burned down mill into a museum. You can see the ruins from that old mill. The view from the observation deck overlooking the river and Stone Bridge is worth price of admission.

While in Minneapolis for a wedding we had some spare time and visited the Mill City Museum (MCM). We parked in a secured high rise pay lot across the street from the museum. We liked that lot access and subsequent remittance required a barcode ticket. We paid eight dollars to park. The MCM admission was fifteen dollars. Although I didn’t experience any “wow moments,” the museum is historically reflective as some exhibits depict how homemakers baked bread and desserts for their families using Gold Medal and Pillsbury flour dough. They even had an old “console tube television” that played period advertisements from maybe the 50’s and 60’s. Additionally, there is a narrated film / freight elevator ride to the tower that is very informative. As always there is the gift shop but you don’t have to pass through it to exit.

I went here on a whim and I am glad I did. Adults are $12 and children are $6 so it is not very expensive.

Make sure to visiting the tasting kitchen for yummy samples.

I had no idea about the flour milling production in Minneapolis and this was very educational.

Loved the grain elevator tour and observation deck.

Great views!

The museum tells the story of mills and flour and Minneapolis all. Plus it is a beautiful spot right on the river. This was great for us as we were in town for just a couple of days.

My teenagers enjoyed themselves even when they kind of dreaded the tour ( you know..flour company plus teenagers) but it is done so well. I can't say this more highly. The layout of the museum is great. The tour guide was interesting and made it great. I loved how you view it by sitting in the freight elevator...So great! Then the views of the city from the top are amazing. Everyone we came in contact with were super nice and informative. Thanks so much and great work preserving this.

Very interesting and informative museum that is great for learning the importance of the river and the flour industry to Minneapolis. Great for all ages.

Neat museum and with some interesting architecture...12 minute elevator presentation, and a 19 minute "history of minneapolis" are the two main highlights of the tour. The observation deck provides a stunning view of the downtown. Two adults, college age student, and a high school student = $40.

The Mill City Museum is definitely worth a stop if you are in Minneapolis. It gives you the history of how Minneapolis became a destination. It's geared toward children as there are several interactive displays that cater to kids. There were several summer camps there when we went. After you are done at the museum, you can walk along the Mississippi River which is right across the street.

Fun, interactive exhibits to explain the history Minneapolis, the mill, and use of the adjacent waterfall to provide power for industry. Especially enjoyed the elevator ride and humorous informative movie about the history of Minneapolis & the development of mills along the river. Every docent was very knowledgeable & readily answered all questions posed to them. All staff members were friendly & gave tips so that we could make the most of our tour. Good hands-on experiences and lots of space make this museum family-friendly. The lab kitchen was offering bread samples on the day we visited. The gift shop was varied & reasonably priced. Cafe available for snacks, beverages, a light lunch.

This museum, housed in a converted old mill by the Mississippi river focuses on the milling industry of the city of Minneapolis, but in doing so also tells the story of the city and everyday life in America. In other words; much more than "just" about the white stuff we use when baking at home. Make sure that you join the tour where you get to ride an industrial elevator
to the top of the building (with great views) and learn a lot about the story behind the mill along the way. There is a more than decent gift shop as well!

My step family showed us the town all right! We went here and boy was that an eye opening experience. I was not prepared to be "elevated" on a tour through the 8 working floors (there was a 9nth floor for observation). It was sobering to realize how dangerous this work was and that people lost limbs. A broken belt on a machine could knock you out and that was a comparably minor result. We all got to play like a bunch of kids with all of the interactive exhibits. I thought it was funny that Pillsbury built a mill across the river from General Mill's. We had a great guide and he told us stories about how they dumped flour into the river and big floating balls of flour would block ship and boat passage. I joked that that must be how Pillsbury came up the with their Pillsbury Dough Boy! The views were breathtaking as well. Highly recommend a visit here!

Lots of hand on activities - they are baking and you can taste - great history elevator ride - top view from above - nice exhibition

My family and I visited the Mill City Museum. We had zero expectations and we were pleasantly surprised. You get to learn how the milling industry influenced Minneapolis and helped drive the local economy. Additionally, you will learn more about how milling is conducted. The tours are well done, the guides are very knowledgeable, and you will learn some interesting facts about Minneapolis.

Thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Flour tower tour is creatively done. Loved the 19 minute video of the city. Great views from the 9th floor overlooking the river. Lots of hands on activities.

We went here thinking... we will get in and get out. However, there were a lot of exhibits that were fun and interactive. Great museum!

Milling wheat has played an important historic role for Minneapolis, so visiting the Mill City Museum gives a reflection on the past. The 19 minute Minneapolis video provides a humorous 400 year history of the area. My favorite part of the tour is the Flour Tower where a freight elevator becomes the mobile theater displaying 8 floors, activating the senses being in a flour mill. The show ends with a panoramic view from the rooftop observation deck showing St. Anthony Falls and the Mississippi Riverfront. The museum gallery and ruins courtyard allow for personal exploration. Allow 2 hours for the Mill City Museum and additional time for the nearby Stone Arch Bridge Pedestrian walk over the Mississippi River.

The Mill City Museum should be on the itinerary of any trip to Minneapolis. The historic mill is full of fun hands-on activities. Get your hands wet and check out how they used to send logs down the river, or move around historic building in one exhibit. Listen to commercial and see how many you recognize. Taste something delicious and use playdough to make your own cookies. Highlights include the 10 minute film on Minneapolis history narrated by Kevin Kline and the amazing tour of the mill history while you’re riding in an elevator! Plus the views from the top of Minneapolis are some of the best in the city. We’re glad to live here and visit this museum regularly!

Man, I wanted this place to be cool. I love the Mill history and the impact that it had on the cities but I found the Museum to be lacking. We did the tour which starts in an elevator with tiered seating. You view multiple floors and there are speakers and equipment examples. The end of the tour is to top floor where they show the huge vacuums that sucked the flammable flour dust out of the air.

But, and this is not necessarily the museums fault, there isn't enough left from the last fire to really get a full understanding of how the mill worked. There's not enough equipment and there's no sense at all for what took place on each floor and how the entire mill worked. As an operations professional, I really wanted a glimpse into that and I wanted to understand more how they harnessed the hydro power for operations.

The personal stories were neat to read and it's clear that the mills were communities for their employees, many of whom spent their entire working lives there.

The views at the end of the tour are also quite good.

At the bottom are some exhibits but the hands on stuff was lacking.

The flour elevator ride is nicely done. Great effects and narration. Very informative of a process so essential to much of what is eaten made from flour. Lots if fun things for kids to touch and learn as well
Nice view of the falls

Went for a walk at sunset. And the view was amazing! What a beautiful area. Must go to when downtown.

My husband and I found this museum by accident - what a great find. It gives you a look back in the past as well as some stunning views of Minneapolis. Worth the 2 hours spent there.

Wonderful experience. Take the family take a date, it doesn’t matter just visit this fantastic museum. Knowledgeable guides who were great to converse with. Exhibits were thoughtful and interesting.

Enjoyed the exhibits and observation deck. Experience was ruined by multiple groups of YMCA day camps that were allowed to run through the museum and yell while in exhibits.

Rich history, friendly staff, educational! I have had a lot of fun visiting this place, good to go with friends/family!

It was a rainy day so we were looking for things inside to do. This place was pretty interesting. The flour tower was cool. And the observation deck was amazing. Now I would like to take my ten year old to it.

The museum is located on the site of a former flour mill. It is very well laid out with lots of informative and fun exhibits. There are hands on activities for kids. The best thing is the Flour Tower experience. I've never been to a museum with this particular type of experience. You go into a "room" which is an elevator. As you go to the different levels you are given information about the milling process by the voices of former mill workers. The film about Minneapolis is very good also. This definitely is a favorite of mine!

The original mill was destroyed in a fire but some of the outer walls remain. The tour takes place in a tower and gives you a wonderful history of the flour milling history of Minneapolis. There is also a terrific film "Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat", very well done film.

My adult daughter and I could have spent all day here. Make sure you take your time see everything. The elevator ride and presentation was super high quality. View from the observation deck is fantastic. This is a must visit if you're in Minneapolis.

Great view from on top of the building of the Mississippi River and the waterfall. Tower elevator explains what happened in the building when grain was made into flour. The Movie is good to learn about the area and how Minneapolis was named. - Close to the Guthrie Theatre and the farmer's market. Displays are great for all ages.

Loved the people there, they know their history and actually enjoy telling it.
Lots to see and learn, I really enjoyed the rest observation deck and the Minneapolis in 19 minutes.

We enjoyed our 2 hour visit here. The best part was the "Minneapolis in 17 minutes" video. The elevator ride and history of the mill was interesting, but the audio was difficult for me to understand. (I am a hearing aid wearer.) Every employee was very helpful and pleasant in answering questions. I would recommend this.

This is a great choice for kids or adults. A short film offers a history of the city, which is very informative and worthwhile. Exhibits are simple but fun, with much nostalgic appeal for those over 50 or so. The tower elevator ride is a very inventive way to explain the mill and its operation. A visit will only take a couple of hours, but if you like history, or factories, you will leave happy.

We were able to look this over during a Saturday Farmers Market, en route to the restrooms. It is a bit of a ruin on the riverside, and nice displays around the main part. It was closed for Covid, and should be open again very soon.

We're local and finally made time to visit. It was entertaining and informative. Volunteers were all over and very helpful. The Flour Tower and Minnesota in 19 min movie was really worthwhile. The water exhibit was also fun. If you go when the farmers market is there it is a nice bonus. The only reason we didn't give it 5 stars it that there may not be enough for a full day visit, but very good place to get a feel for Minneapolis' history.

I hadn't expected to spend as much time here as I did. The 19-minute movie is a fun and funny introduction to the city and its history, presented by a local comedian. It's a handy orientation to both the city and the museum.

Like others reported, the exhibits are varied and interesting. The hands-on section teaches kids about hydropower and physics without them realizing it.

Try to NOT read about what the Flour Tower is all about -- it's more than a ride to the observation deck, but it's sort of fun to be surprised. It's a timed-entry experience, with times assigned when you buy your ticket, so I'd go earlier in the day vs. later, if you have the choice.

We started our visit with a video on the history of Minneapolis, which gave a nice overview of the area's history. The museum exhibits had something for everyone from children to adults, but the real highlight was the Flour Tower, a multimedia experience where passengers ride in a freight elevator, stop at different floors to see exhibits on the mill's history, and then end at the top with a great view of the river and surrounding area. Very enjoyable; we spent about an hour and a half, and then walked along the ruins near the river as well.

We joined two couples visiting us from other states to tour this fascinating building, set in the remains of a flour mill that has been beautifully converted into a multi-story history museum. We enjoyed the room-wide elevator ride that took us between five floors of the museum, telling the story of how flout milling evolved. There also is a very interesting 18 minute movie on the origins of the Minneapolis and some of its highlights. Finally, there are many interactive exhibits that are fun for young and old.

I recently visited the Mill City Museum with two of my grandchildren. This visit was beyond my expectations and my grandchildren were fascinated with the exhibits and the old mill ruins. We HIGHLY recommend the Flour Tower! It is very creative and effectively tells the story of the mill and its history. The kids loved the real stories of the mill explosion and fire! Viewing the river from the observation deck and seeing the remaining mill equipment were also engaging to them (and me).

I wasn't sure what to expect of the Mill City Museum, but it's very well done. Great use of an old building, and a great overview of the city's mill history. Worth the visit!

Much of this museum is geared to younger ages, 1-8 years - IMO. The 19 minute history of Minneapolis was informative if a bit corny. Much of the hands on exhibits were for kids, the adult exhibits were lots of text on board displays. The Tower excursion was the best part of the museum again IMO. The $12 adult fee was fair price for adults under 65.

What a wonderful museum with many hands on learning experiences. The tour brought you back in time and shared history on the twn

Our waitress suggested the Museum since it was close and walkable. Took the tour. Very informative. Plus they have a movie of the history of Minneapolis. It was a great day. They also had an indoor farmers market with lots of selections from local vendors. The market is 2 Sat/mo and ends at 1pm. And a cafe and gift shop.

I got the dirtiest looks from my husband and two sons (5 & 7) when I said history museum. However, both the boys listed it days later as a highlight of the trip. The museum had plenty of things to touch and play with to engage the boys. We actually had to drag them out complaining when we had to go. As a home cook, I enjoyed the Baking Lab and all the old kitchen gadgets, cookbooks and baking info. The kids loved the samples of cookies and bread. The elevator ride/tour was excellent, presented any other way the material would have been dry, but the presentation was so fun, even my crew enjoyed it.

The building was closed because of COVID-19 restrictions when we were there on May 20, 2021. We could only look through the doors. Not much to see. The facade had old flour mill machinery and part of the rail line that serviced the mills

Very interesting tour about how this area became the largest flour milling area in the United States. I did not realize flour dust was so flammable. Lots of people worked in this industry, till the mills closed down, The Flour Tower ride was very good. It is a Blue Star museum. Active duty military and their family get in free.

Okay. I had time to kill and thought this would be a good way to do it. Flour mills? Not really anything that interested me. It was a really pleasant surprise for a number of reasons:
1. It really educates you on how important the milling industry was for Minneapolis.
2. A lot of hands on things for children.
3. The museum is right in the ruins (yes ruins since the Gold Medal mill burned down in 1991) which is really cool.
4. Reasonably priced. It was $12.

Highly recommend visiting!

Really enjoyed the friendly and knowledgeable staff. The Tower of Flour was a neat way of telling the story of mill employees.

its great that the historic society stepped in to save this old structure. well curated. we took the tower tour which provides a commanding view of the city.

be sure and stay for the 19 minute film.

I'd recommend a visit here so that you can get a bit of history of Minneapolis and how it started. A must do is the Flour Tower elevator show, very informative and at the end of the tour you're at the top of the museum either inside or outside for see a great view of the Mississippi, the Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls. A really impressive view and of course great for picture taking. Also be sure to see the Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat film, it's humorous and whimsical while giving you another look at Minneapolis history. Closed Mon. Open at 10 am to 5pm, Sun Noon to 5 pm. There is a cafe and gift shop.

the whole place is interesting from the tower tour to the kids muesem. the food in the kitchen was fun (my wife kept going back)

Center of town. Early use of hydroelectric. Grain in flour out. Special method to deal with hard wheat. Introductory film highly recommended. Leads you to Ft. Snelling.

Great place to bring children and fun for adults as well. Culture and beautiful overlook of the river.

We visited here at the recommendation of a park ranger that was stationed near the lock and dam, at Stone arch bridge. At first view, it sounds like a museum about the history of flour would be boring, but it definitely was NOT! There were several interactive areas which was great for both adults and kids. Our 4 year old enjoyed the water lab, baking area, and the giant elevator with videos. The tour guides were all very enthusiastic and engaging.

Plenty of metered parking out front. Quick walk to the Stone Arch bridge.

The Mill City Museum is a good place to start when touring Minneapolis for the first time. Start with the orientation film that gives a broad overview of city history. Then take the elevator tour up to the observation deck floor. I don't think about the grain mill business too often, but the exhibits tell a great story. Plenty of videos to watch and interactive exhibits. Great for families.

A unique small specialty museum. It weaves the history of flour milling with the history of Minneapolis. There are interactive displays. Definitely worth a visit.

I learned so much about Minneapolis and the flour industry in less than 2 hours! The Flour Tower is a must see (it's part of your admission) and don't forget to watch Minneapolis in 19 Minutes (flat!). I got to learn more about the Mississippi River as well as flour mills! Highly recommended!

This museum is one of my favorite places to go in the twin cities. You learn so much about the wheat industry and it takes you through an important part of the city history. The surrounding area is all very historic as well.

I was sold on this museum when the poster in the window said "Cradle of Carbohydrates."
Then I got inside and they've taken an historic building, with all it's wounds, and done a great job of informing me of the roll the mills played in the formation of Minnesota.
Also an interesting lesson in the failure of our old approach to urban renewal.
This is an underappreciated museum in Minneapolis.

Interesting modern museum located within the shell of the defunct and partially ruined Washburn A
flour mill with a scenic river overlook. Great exhibits on the history of the mill, milling process, water power and the milling industry. Included is an entertaining 19 min video covering the 300+ years on Minneapolis history and culture. The Flour Tower exhibit moves from the bottom to the top of a tower and covers the various stages of the milling process.

If you like history, architecture & the like, look no further than the Mill City Museum. You can, and I have spent hours wandering through, reading the plaques and exploring the views inside this ruin of a mill on the shores of the Mississippi River, right next to the Guthrie Theatre. Afterwards, take a stroll over the Stone Arch Bridge, or if it is the weekend, take in the Farmer's Market.

This museum is in the actual ruins of the old mill, so you really get to connect with the history. Especially because the real elevator ride to a spectacular view is also a video ride through history.

The museum has a few exhibits that talk about the industrial history of the city and the flour mills that took roots here.

The elevator tour through the mill is quite unique, as you go though the different stages of the milling process. Do not miss the Minneapolis in 19 minutes flat movie where local artist Kevin Kling walks you through the history of the city

there is not that many places in the world devoted to wheat and flour. Minneapolis is definitely the one and you can find out why and how the business of the flour making developed over the years, highly recommended

Went with a school trip for the kids here and I must say, the Mill Museum was awesome! Kids loved it, and there is also a MG while park, as well as the downtown river walk along the Mississippi/Minnesota rivers nearby.

If you live here, it pays to purchase a family membership as it covers admission to multiple places in the area…

I think this Museum is amazing!!!

We spent a few hours here and really enjoyed our visit. While it focuses on the milling industry, it provides a pretty comprehensive history of Minneapolis. Staff was plentiful and very engaging. The Flour Tower presentation was top notch and the movie (History of Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat) was much to our liking. Looked like there was a lot for kids to do, but mainly aimed at adults.

We went to a very exclusive wedding reception here. It is a mixture of old on the outside and new on the inside. Unfortunately, the weather was extremely hot and humid for September in Minneapolis. Both the cocktail hour and the dinner were outdoors.

We went to this museum after touring the locks, and found it be a fun and informative introduction to the city. It's built in the ruins of a mill that exploded, leaving some equipment and crumbling walls behind. We went right before closing time and though we didn't have nearly enough time to tour the entire museum, we still thought it was well worth the trip!
Don't miss out on the "flour tower" - a giant elevator with seating that takes you on a tour through the history of the mill. It's a bit short, but worth your time. It also ends on a balcony with lovely views of the St Anthony Falls!
The outdoor part of the museum, where some of the ruins are, is used for shows sometimes, so make sure you check their schedule online to see if the courtyard is open!

I remember going here when the museum opened nearly 10 years ago - I saw it again this year and still love it- There is a wonderful gift shop and the story of how flour mills dominated the city is amazing. So wonderful to see a museum created at the actual site. Highlights are the top of the tower with the outdoor balcony overlooking the river and of course, the Flour Tower ride/exhibit! A must see in Minneapolis!

The grain elevator ride is fun and you get to see a great view of stone arch bridge when you are done. The exploding volcano was pretty neat too see. Fun for all ages.

Wonderful museum at site of ruins of one of the largest flour mills - which used to be the anchor the city. Great elevator ride that takes you to different floors and shows you how everything worked. From the top, you get a great view of the St. Anthony Falls area. Good movie on Minneapolis as well.

The main floor photo gallery this month features vintage scenes of Nicollet Mall (Minneapolis) shopping center and holiday window dressing traditions of the past... so great!
Good tour and interesting history of the mill. Try to get there in time for the explosion demo... offered most days and is really cool.
The tour takes you up to the 8th floor, where there is an awesome glass observation deck and the views of Stone Arch Bridge and the Mississippi River are amazing.
Tip... go on a warm day so you can walk on the bridge after the Mill City tour.
The kids had fun "designing" cereal boxes and learning about wheat production.
There is a cute cafe on main floor where you can enjoy a beverage, snack or meal.

This place is okay. All the reviews were raving about it, so we felt like we couldn't miss it. Well, we could have and we would have been just fine. It's $12 for adults; however, there is a $2 of senior, student, and veteran discount. It's informative and a very nice and clean museum. The view at the top of the building overlooking the Mississippi and Stone Arch Bridge is cool. Overall, for a couple without kids, it's okay if you don't do this activity.

This is a nice smaller museum that you can get through in a couple of hours. The Flower Tower exhibit is interesting and they have interactive displays for children. We visited on a Saturday where there was a small farmers market event.

There are 9 floors of exhibits of actual equipment used,scenes of the past reacted. They use a freight elevator to open the doors to the scenes. You get to see the machines in use. There is a movie for 18 minutes,that gives you a quick history lesson of Minneapolis also. We got through it in about 2 and a half hours.12.00 each for a great time.

We arrived on a Saturday just after noon to find a farmers’ market in full swing. We bought and ate some snacks before going into the museum. We rode the Flour Tower freight elevator to view the history of the mill. The docents are excellent! Be sure to see the demonstration of a flour explosion and the movie, “Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat.” The Baking Lab offered tastes of croutons and brownies. Plan to spend two to three hours to see everything.

My boys and I visited the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis and this has been by far one of our all-time favorite museums.  This museum is in an old flour mill and it has displays that are interactive, a baking lab and a grain elevator experience that takes you to the top of the museum.

This museum is not overly crowded so the boys were able to do all of the activities without lines or crowds.  Our favorite part of the museum (aside from the baking lab!) was the level of interaction that the museum employees or volunteers that came with us to the top of the museum and the number of questions they answered for my boys. 5 stars for patience, knowledge and the best most friendly attitude we have experienced at a museum.

I would recommend this museum to ages 5+, there are several opportunities for smaller children, but it is limited and not centered around the idea that its a children's museum.  The boys were able to participate in all of the activities and learned so much about flour.

We came upon this museum really by accident and did not have any prior plans to make a visit here.  We also happened upon a farmer's market (it was a Saturday) that was happening both inside and outside of the ground floor of the museum entrance.  It was a treat to get to see local vendors, grab a snack and find some local makers.

Very interesting museum which gives the history of Gold Medal flour and the history of Minneapolis as the "flour capital" of the midwest. Interesting exhibits with lots of hands on experiences for children. The flour tower tour is worth taking, not just for the history but also for the great view of Minneapolis and the Mississippi River from the 8th floor. Also watch the movie Minneapolis in 19 minutes which gives you a sense of the history and background of the city.

The various exhibits are attractive to all ages. I even found a quote on the back of a chair from a long ago relative!

Since I'm a history buff, this was really enlightening. I learned so much about the making of flour, the reasons why the mills were located near running water, the machinery need to mill flower....Amazing multimedia show of the history of the mill and the area around it. Many hands on things to do for kids and adults. The view from the top of the mill is great too.

Interesting museum. They told the story of the mill in a very creative way. The views are also great. I enjoyed the museum very much.

Attended a private function at the Mill City Museum and the museum was open for guests to tour. The elevator on top provided a lovely view of the falls and river. Doscents were plentiful and knowledgeable and a food lab, offers up tasty samples.

This museum is built next to ruins of a mill. It blends the old and new well. Interesting to learn about the flour milling industry, including the danger of explosion from the flour dust.
Also, in summer there is an opera series in the ruins part. Great performance of Carmen!

This museum honors the history of the flour milling industry in Minneapolis. It is located in the remains of a former flour mill, ruined by fire many years ago. Two highlights of the visit were the brief (20 minutes) movie about the history of Minneapolis and the Flour Tower. The Flour Tower is a freight elevator fitted with tiered seating where visitors sit while the elevator visits each floor of the mill and provides an overview of the milling process. The last stop on the top floor of the mill provides a great place to view the surrounding buildings and park area. Much care has been taken to preserve the building in its ruined state to capture the feel of the building. We had a casual lunch in the café and enjoyed our meal. The day we visited, the museum hosted a farmer's market so be sure to check out the daily activities.

We just left a 2 hour tour of the Mill City Museum. It was a full 2 hours, with a 29 minute film survey of Minneapolis history and culture, an elevator tour of the flour mill history, and a docent presentation of working women’s lives in the late 1800’s. Very interesting. This is all besides the permanent displays about General Mills and it’s background. Good time to visit downtown Minneapolis with less traffic!!

Learn about the history of Gold Medal Flour through the wonderful displays and an elevator trip back in time. There are lots of replicas you may purchase at the gist store. The view from the top is stunning. While you are there be sure and tour the lock and dam.

Calling all history buffs , patriots, and general tourist types. Here you will get a comprehensive history of the Mill City, and see what makes Minneapolis tick. Well planned tour, museum, and view deck with panoramic views of St. Anthony Falls, Stone Arch Bridge, Mississippi River.

Be sure to allow approximately 2 hours so that you can see the 19 Minute Mpls Film, take the Elevator Tour, and spend time viewing the exhibits. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable; if they couldn’t answer a question, they found the answer for you. It was a beautiful Fall day on our visit, so the viewing from the 8th Floor of The Mill over the Mississippi River was magnificent. In the museum, we especially enjoyed watching and hearing old marketing ads for Bisquick and Poppin’ Fresh. So happy they preserved this building and are now sharing this huge part of Mpls history.

A nice educational museum on the flour industry that was the basis for the start of the Twin Cities.

Great for history lovers of all ages. Family friendly. Nice cafe and gift shop. Great views of city and Saint Anthony falls. Don’t miss it.

We took the extended tour and it was an interesting glimpse in to a period that wasn't that lone ago.

This was an interesting place to visit. We were in Minneapolis for an overnight so decided to go to this museum. Area around it was nice for walking.

Having visited several of the museums in Minneapolis, decided to give the Mill City Museum a try, and it did not disappoint. We spent three hours looking at the items on display, reading about the history of Minneapolis and milling industry, and reminisced on several of these items or parents or grandparents had when we younger. The elevator ride was very interesting and a unique way to hear stories of the past. Loved the eclectic movie on Minneapolis. Definitely was a good choice to try, and highly recommend. Make sure to stop in the baking pan and have a treat!

My two granddaughters (12&14) and I visited this after our Segway Magical History Tour of Minneapolis; complimentary tickets for the Mill City Museum were included by the Segway tour providers. While there is no parking exclusively for the Mill City Museum, there is a parking ramp directly across the street. We all found the tour of the museum and the museum itself quite interesting. Who knew that a one time, Minneapolis mills produced more flour than anywhere else on the planet. In any case, the displays provide enough variety that a wide range of children will find something of interest. I am spoiled because my granddaughters show an actual interest in historical places (or they are just humoring their grandfather). In addition, there is a very nice café in the museum that makes a great burger and fries. Recommend a visit if you're in the area.

There is plenty to do for children in this museum but interesting enough for adults. I highly recommend taking the "elevator" tour. Be sure to take in the view from the top of the building. Bonus points for being on the Mississippi River and close to the Stone Arch Bridge. Go look at the ruins by the river after visiting the museum.

It is an interesting place to visit once. The view from the top of the museum over looking the river is impressive. This museum seems to geared towards younger children. The elevator ride and brief naratives on each floor was interesting. I don't plan on returning soon though.

Super cool place to visit! Cute restaurant! Great history and the staff are willing to answer any questions!

This is a great museum. The building itself is amazing to see because of its history and preservation. Visitors get to learn about the operations of Gold Medal Flour, and the role of the mill in the city and its location on the river. The views of the river from the observation deck are also amazing. This is a 'do not miss' gem.

This is one of Americas greatest examples of industrial ruins. They participate in the Bank of America Museums on Us program. This is a flour mill that closed in the 1960s. Kids today need to know what their grandparents and great grandparents did.

I would easily put the Mill City Museum up there with the Carry Blast Furnace National Historic Landmark (Pittsburgh steel), Parkard Factory (Detroit), Mining Museum (Butte, Montana), Steel Stacks/National Museum of Industrial History (Bethlaham, PA (steel). This is a stunning example of industrial ruins that you can safely and legally explore.

I wasn’t expecting much. Honesty visiting an abandoned flour mill sounds as much fun as watching paint dry, but I was pleasantly surprised. I took my daughter and some second grade friends. There were interactive exhibits and a cool elevator movie thing. The view from the top is great. It’s no Smithsonian but it’s not bad.

Plan to spend at least 90 minutes here to appreciate the role the flour mills and wheat had on early development of the Twin Cities. The exhibits are well-curated, there's a baking lab with fresh bread and brownie samples (!), and admission to the "Flour Tower" ride that takes you up and down several floors while explaining the history of the mill. You'll get a great panoramic view of the river, Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony's Falls at the end. If you come on a Saturday in summer, the farmer's market outside is an added bonus.

Don't miss out on this museum, one of the best I've ever been in. There's alot of Minneapolis history and excellent information presented by some very knowledgeable folks and ones they genuinely seem to enjoy talking and presently to you.

I'm a hands-on guy and there is alot to see and play with that will teach you things you may not have thought of. Very well thought out. Kids will love it. From viewing some old commercials to seeing the water tables where you can see how dams funneled water throughout the regional terrain to run the milling machines, there is plenty to learn.

Americans know to make money even out of their lost factories and the ruins thereof. This is one more example. The walk near the river opposite is beautiful though.

If you have wondered about Minneapolis, this is the place to learn more about its history. Value add is the Stone Arch Bridge just a short walk away and the beautiful park area. Definitely worth a visit.

The old Gold Medal mill in downtown Minneapolis has been transformed into an educational experience on the milling industry and local history. The Flour Tower is a must-do elevator thrill ride that shows life at the mill and the constant danger of explosion from highly flammable flour dust. At the test kitchen, volunteers from the Minnesota Historic Society demonstrate their bread-baking and dessert-making skills. There's also an interactive exhibit where children of all ages can learn how to harness water power to run a mill. Don't forget to watch "Minneapolis in 19 Minutes," a short film that humorously shows Minneapolis's history and diversity. Well worth the price of admission.

This nicely done museum will give visitors good insight into the important part the flour mills played in making The Cities great. The displays are informative and well done. You will learn a lot about those everyday products in your cupboard. Housed in the shell of the mill, there are also fantastic views of the river. Something you can do in a couple of hours in your day before walking along the river trail.

Very interesting and informative museum, although some of the staff/docents need better training. We asked several questions, which one docent, in particular, had no clue about answering, and she told us things that were completely incorrect (which we later read in exhibits). In her defense, she did call someone to get some answers, but was then still unable to make sense of them.

Otherwise, it’s a fun, interactive museum. You will learn a lot, and get a feel for what life was like during the active mill years as well as the evolution of the flour/processed food industry, and the importance of the Mississippi River to both Minneapolis and the mills.

Educational and well done. Who knew flour was such an important part of Minneapolis history?!
Went on a Friday - not very busy.
Reasonable prices.
Took about an hour including wandering around before and after the tour.

The old flour plant has been transformed into a museum that lays out the glory days of the flour processing industry in Minneapolis. The short guided tour is informative, yet the elevator ride to the top with several stops was somewhat odd. No matter. The rest of the tour is done on your own with hands-on experiences that kids are sure to enjoy (I'm a 62-year-old kid). The views from the top of the museum overlooking the Mississippi and the remains of the burned out factory are well worth the admission price.

Nicely put together and very well run. The views from the observation deck are amazing. The 19-minute movie quickly provides a decent history of the city. Well worth your time to include this museum in your itinerary when visiting Minneapolis.

This museum is a great way to get to know the city. Learning about the flour mill but also a great 19 min. video to learn about the development of the city.

It was fascinating to see and hear about the workings of this old mill, as well as it's impact and history in the Twin Cities.

The Mill City Museum is a great venue for a wedding. We had an outside ceremony followed by an indoor reception. Space was available for an inside ceremony if the weather failed to cooperate.
There was ample room for dining and dancing.
The museum is also a fascinating walk back in time to an era where water power from the Mississippi enabled the flour and textile industries to flourish.
The MCM is adjacent to the Guthrie Theater with its impressive architecture and wide-ranging programs.

Our large group enjoyed a reception and dinner served here, as well as a tour. So many interesting artifacts on display on the early Minneapolis flour mills, from machinery to baking equipment to old packaging and cookbooks and TV commercials. There is lots to see, the “flour tower” movie/experience, outdoor observation deck overlooking the St. Anthony falls and locks at the Mississippi. A demonstration kitchen has samples of baked goods and is a live lab used for school children.
There is a beautiful gift shop full of quality local items.

DO NOT MISS this old wheat made into flour museum. The mill closed after a fire and a General Mills consolidation. There is a 20 minute film about the history of Minneapolis and a neat tour of the mill.

See the Mill City website for all parts of this adventure. This experience is priced right and you can even find some $2 off coupons online. First, let me say that the staff here was very customer friendly. You get your ticket and it gives you a time for your Flour Tower Tour. In the meantime, you can visit the small gift shop, watch a 19 minute Minneapolis film, see the small museum, visit the Bakery Lab, and see the water room. When you take your tour, you are seated on benches in a large elevator that moves from floor to floor to tell you some flour company history. You learn of the fire that destroyed this building. When you see the Ruins Courtyard, you really get a better image of the story of this building. This was a unique experience, off the beaten path, but so nice to do. We did not have a rental car while in the Mall of America area, but we took the light rail for $2 and rode to the downtown area. From the US Bank Stadium train stop, you walk a few short blocks to this old flour mill. There is a little on-street parking if you have a car, but otherwise you would need to find a parking area since there is not a parking lot for the museum. Recommended activity if in the area!

Great trip! We arrived at approximately 10 am and made our way towards the entrance to buy our admission tickets. The admission tickets included entry into the museum, as well as a timed ticket to the flower tower show. We began our trip by exploring the museum. There were many informational plaques as well as artifacts out for display, detailing the history of milling in Minneapolis, as well as the equipment used to make flour. There were several hands on stations that were geared for people of all ages, including the water lab, which gave us more insight on the importance of Saint Anthony Falls to the milling industry. We then proceeded to head towards the entrance of the flower tower, where we were greeted by an employee and instructed on where to sit for the show. The show was absolutely stunning and extremely unique. We were seated inside of an elevator, and the employee gave us a brief introduction of the mill we were currently in, as well as the milling industry as a whole in Minneapolis. The show consisted of taking the elevator up and down eight floors. Every time we landed on a floor, the elevator door opened, and we got to witness several machines in action, along with voiceovers of what we were seeing in front of us. The sound effects and lighting during the show really brought the production to life. The show lasted for approximately 15 minutes. At the end of the show, we were greeted by an employee on the top floor of the museum, where we got to hear and see how different pieces of equipment operated. There was also an observation deck that provided views of the Mississippi River along with St. Anthony Falls. We then took the elevator back down to the ground floor, where the main museum was located. There was a baking lab on site, which provided free samples of various pastries. Once we were done eating the samples, we went to the theatre, where there was a movie playing about the history of Minneapolis. The movie was lighthearted, and did a good job of providing the audience with information about the city and how it came to be. The movie lasted roughly 20 minutes. We then went outside to the ruin courtyard, where there were additional informational plaques located. My only complaint is that the informational plaques were packed with paragraphs of information and took a while to read/get through.

Tip: I recommend spending 4 hours here if you truly want to see everything.

I’m a history nerd and this place satisfied my several year long desire to visit this place run by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Our guide, Kyle, was personable and informative.

We also sat in on a re-enactor portraying a female journalist in the 1890s reporting on working conditions. She was very good and I wish more people would have seen her.

The curated gift shop was excellent as well.

Highly recommend.

A historical building of the Pilbara Flour Mills, it's easy to walk around has many displays, hands-on activities demonstrating hours the wheat was ground take a ride in the elevator which has a clever video floor by floor of the workings and history of the Mill

My husband and I spent a day touring Minneapolis/St.Paul earlier this Spring, following a conference he attended. What a cool city!!! After walking almost the entire length of the Skywalk, we spent an hour at the Mill City Museum, and had a BALL! Highly recommend visiting this museum when in town, and aiming to visit when you can catch their Flour Tower tour. You get to ride between the floors of the museum, hearing narration from former mill workers and seeing dioramas of the former mill-workings -- and you are riding in a former grain elevator with bleacher seating that has been converted into the feel of a carnival ride! FUN -- and educational! I do a lot of baking, so it was especially interesting to me to learn so much of the history of the Gold Medal and Pillsbury flour companies, not to mention the general knowledge of grain production in the US.

The mill itself was/is basicalyy a total ruin; some walls & a foundation, that's it. Your experience is viewed from a massive elevator which rises through a series of recreated rooms and short video vingettes, and it is interesting but not particularly hostoric (as in 'real'). There's some silly patter about the ride being scary, which sent one poor child out before it even started. Perhaps she was thinking it was a roller coaster. There's a view from the top. Decently done given what they have to work with. The ground floor museum, however, manages to be both kid (hands on) friendly and actually interesting if you take the time to stop and read a bit. Certainly good for those of us who grew up with these products, or our parents did. Baking demo - never was clear if anyone actually got to sample what was being made - but had a nice conversation with the cook and probably could have carried on a bit longer. I think worth a stop, just don't imaine you will be walking through an old mill.

Very well put together museum, the kids area was far enough away from the other exhibits. Very informative, lots of docents. The video on Minneapolis was very good. Unfortunately, the flour tower was closed, but we didn't miss it.

I went to the museum as part of a wedding party. As a result, I was able to see part of the museum. Remnants of the trains and facilities were present

We visited on a Friday, and it was pretty busy with the school kids. There is a lot of information about the mills in Minneapolis, and about providing flour for the war efforts. My father would’ve enjoyed the Flour Tower a lot more, if there was some sort of monitor with closed captioning. Even I had a bit of trouble understanding the words that were being said with all the background noise. I know there was a sign about how to adjust your hearing aids, but that did not mean anything to him. The photo display regarding George Floyd was an added bonus.

This museum is a wonderful experience. You will see an overview of Minneapolis history and the flour industry. The experience of going unto a elevator is neat and the city view at the very top. The museum store is a great place to purchase things about MINNEAPOLIS Young kids love the hands on experience.

If you go during the school day, there will be a gazillion school children there, which is sort of an interesting experience in it's own. What seems like a cheesy homage to flour is really an amazingly clever museum about flour, history, politics and explosions.

This historic mill dates from when Minneapolis was the flour milling capitol of the US.It gives a perspective on the people who worked there . The Flour Tower is a 12 minute multimedia presentation in a grain elevator which was great. Then there is a film about history of Minneapolis. Definitely worth a visit

This is a must-see museum in downtown Minneapolis. Located on the River front and has a great view of Stone Arch Bridge from the 9th floor observation deck on the tour. Great history of the flour industry from late 1800s to 1965. The Flour Tower is a unique way to show how the mill worked and you can really understand what it was like to work long shifts in the mill. Don't miss the humorous film of the history of Minneapolis. It was a great ending to our visit. This museum is appropriate for all ages. Expect to spend 1.5-2 hours here and bring your camera.

I wouldn’t think a museum devoted to the history of Minneapolis flour production would be interesting, but after a visit to the Mill City Museum, I have a new perspective on a common household staple. The museum is in the ruins of a flour mill. It’s a beautiful setting, even in winter. Exhibits explain how wheat becomes flour, but the “Flour Tower” is the highlight of the tour. Visitors ride a freight elevator, stopping at various floors to hear audio of former employees offering candid takes on life at the mill. The tour ends at the observation deck, which has unmatched views of the Mississippi River. It’s difficult to have an entire museum devoted to one topic, but Mill City succeeds admirably. Don’t miss the gift shop, which has a large selection of cookbooks and baking/cooking materials. Parking is easy in the garage across the street, but I’ve often found metered parking on the street.

This seemed like an interesting place, but when we got in, we were really pleasantly surprised. There is a short film, that's quite entertaining. There is also a "ride" that is not to be missed. While waiting for your assigned times to do those 2 things, you have time to explore the actual exhibits. There is a demo kitchen where they actually make baked goods and you can sample them. Pretty cool place to take some nice photos when you get to the top.

Since I was short on time I couldn’t visit this museum properly. However, the exterior is impressive and I believe the interior would be as well.

This museum tells the story of Minneapolis through the eyes of the workers in the mill. The elevator has bleacher type seating which takes you to different levels where there are recordings of former mill workers talk about their experiences, while you view equipment and other artifacts. There are still exhibits and pieces of machinery which can be viewed up close. Staff are available to answer questions.

A bonus is the ability to take another elevator to the top of the museum and look out on an expansive view of the city and across the river. You can even go outside and see the view.

The small lunch place on the first floor, "Bushel and Peck" serves a nice lunch. Their hamburgers and fries were excellent. There were other selections which were being enjoyed by other customers.

Parking is on the street, we found one across the street from the museum.

There is a small gift shop as well and very clean bathrooms.

A museum which incorporates a partially destroyed building is always worth a visit. Take the full tour! The freight elevator experience is not to be missed.

We were not aware of the deep flour milling history of Minneapolis until we visited this area. The museum is good, but the actual flour milling process needs to be explained in greater detail. A trip to the 9th floor is well worth the time if nothing else for the view it provides.

If downtown Mpls, this is a great spot to see the views of the river and take in some local history. This past weekend there was a Ocktober fest going on and free tour of St Anthony’s dam.

What an interesting museum. Take the Flour Tower elevator tour. It was so interesting and cool. I didn’t know flour was so important and interesting, but it was enlightening. The cookies in the kitchen were delish- be sure to get your free cookies . The view from the observatory is magnificent. I also enjoyed learning about the very smart African-American engineers and architects that built the city.

The Mill City Museum is a great introduction to the early days of Minneapolis and how and why the flour mills came to be. This museum walks you through the process of milling flour from wheat. In a step by step manner you learn how flour is made and how the Mississippi River helped provide the energy to make the flour mills and the wood mills work. There are many volunteers throughout the museum willing to share their knowledge about each of the different areas. The tour also includes two programs. One is a short movie called "Minneapolis in 19 minutes flat." Very well done and entertaining even my 7 year old grandson enjoyed this movie. The other program was a narrative of how the workers from the mill in 1960 felt. We rode up and down in an actual freight elevator made into a small theatre. Each floor explained various parts of what the employees did each day up and til the mill was closed in 1965. After to tour we went up to the 9th floor and enjoyed a beautiful observation deck. We watched the Mississippi River and had great views of the Stone Arch Bridge.

The location is in the center of Minneapolis and easy to get to. Our 7 year old grandson very much enjoyed the museum and all the hands on areas. There are elevators so it is easily accessible. The cost is $12 for adults and less for seniors and children. There are picnic tables for nice weather, a small café inside the museum and there are places where the ruins of the side of the mill that was in a fire. I felt the day was very informative and interesting with many volunteers to help and answer questions.

Absolutely stunning views. Most beautiful when the sun starts to set and you get that amazing glow. It is free but will need money for street parking

We only had a short time in the museum but the staff made sure we knew where to be and when to take advantage of the demonstrations and movies offered. Interesting history of the flour mills and Minnesota. Mill presentation ended on an upper floor with a great view of the river.

Great to hear about the history of flour in Minneapolis, but so much more. The ride to the overlook with stops in between was worth the admission. Also a nice café on site for lunch. Only blocks away from the stadium light rail station.

Parking was a breeze very close to the museum. The museum was filled with school kids, but there was still plenty of room to walk around and the noise level was very reasonable. A tour was provided by a tour guide and it was a nice informative tour.

I did a site visit at the Museum for a potential reception. A very interesting Museum that teaches you about the flour mill industry that was once huge in Minneapolis. Very interactive which is great for groups of children. It is a must see while visiting Minneapolis.

This museum was a delight. It includes a variety of different materials, including a mill tour, movie about the development of the City, a lesson in grains, and historical commercials for Pillsbury and Gold Medal flour. We learned a lot about the growth of Minneapolis, the flour business and the Mississippi. Strongly recommend for all ages and interests.

It’s a very nice place. For 12$ you get an amazing city view and few very interesting historical films.

At first glance I overlooked this museum not knowing what it was. On second look, it's a museum about how General Mills was basically formed here on the river. Gold Medal Flour, Pillsbury...a factory exploded. There's a lot to learn about. On the tour, you're seated in a giant, moving freight elevator that tells a story as you go from floor to floor and view different scenes and sounds from the days-of-factory-past. I've never seen anything like it. If none of that sounds interesting to you, at the end you'll get to go to a rooftop that overlooks the river where you'll be able to take ig ready selfies. Also, you'll learn something. Go.

The flour tower was pretty cool and the view was beautiful but the hands on kitchen and water exhibits are definitely designed for younger kids. The 19 minute Minneapolis movie was kind of oddly filmed but worth your time if you are there.

There is way more to this area and museum than one might think. It was great to learn about the milll industry and history of the area. We also had a nice lunch in the cafe. You can spend as much time as you want here and the guides are happy to answer your questions. It’s a shame they decided to move operations to the suburbs but they have done a great job of preserving history. This mill is the predecessor to General Mills.

Enjoyed touring the Mill Museum. The Flour Tower was very interesting. Enjoyed all the pictures, videos, etc about when the mills started in the city. Also liked the "Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat film". A lot of nostalgia, as well as hands-on exhibits. Good exhibits for kids and adults to see. Great view from the rooftop deck. All of the guides were very helpful and informative, especially Kimmy.

I was in town on business and had no idea that these flour mills were headquartered and part of the history of this city. What a great historic stop - they did a great job preserving this gem and mixing in some fun. In addition to the tours, there is shopping and dining. Great - great views! Worth your time!

I didn't have high expectations for our family visit, but boy were we surprised! It's just an old flour mill but they've really maximized the potential of the site. Very interesting, educational and entertaining. Also great views from the top and great photo opportunities for the family. Discounts for students and vets also a nice feature.

This was an excellent museum about the milling business and the history of the river, the falls, and how it affected and built Minneapolis. Superb docents, many interactive attractions for families and adults.

Great displays. Elevator tour was fantastic. If you are interested in tours, you need to book online well in advance. There are only two per months offered in 2024.

We very much enjoyed the story of Minneapolis shown in an old floor mill. We also attended a beautiful wedding which started in the outdoor private area and continued in the interior ballroom area.

House caterer was excellent. A memorable evening to remember.

We had family visiting from Arizona, so on Friday August 1, 2025 we came to see the museum. I have been here a few times including once for a wedding reception held in the main lobby area (Great place for it). Our family visitors had not been here and all of us enjoyed it. The highlight is the Flour Tower which you get a scheduled time. The tower elevator seats about 20 people (yes you sit down) and it travels up and down the 9 stories of the building. Wonderful history with voices of former employees narrating. There is also a film lasting 19 minutes by local writer and comedian Kevin Kling. Do not miss these two events, important for learning more about Minneapolis and the milling industry. Plus there is the fabulous view from the roof, the mill ruins and the awesome exhibits and some interactive. Highly recommended, a wonderful, exciting, fascinating museum.

Went to see this museum & within 20 minutes my wife & I realized it was the most dull museum we had ever seen. We saw what little they have to see very quickly then things took a turn for the worst. They offer what they call the flower tour basically a ride in a giant elevator. I could tell my blood sugar was going down (thanks to my Libre 3) so I decided not to ride at the time my wife went. It takes about 12 minutes and is an absolute Covid trap. While my wife was on the flower tour I sat down and began to eat some fruit snacks to raise my blood sugar so that I did not have a medical emergency. I opened the fruit snack put them in my mouth, put the wrapper in my pocket and when I looked up a very rude lady was staring at me. She instantly told me that eating was not allowed in the museum. I tried to explain to her that I was a type 1 diabetic and that my blood sugar was low. She again in an even ruder voice told me eating was not allowed in the museum. Again I tried explain that I was a type 1 diabetic and if I did not raise my blood sugar I could have a seizure or go into a coma. She instantly responded with “that is not how diabetes works and you need to leave now”. To say the least I was stunned but my parents taught me as a child not to argue with stupid people. So I simply got up and went to enjoy my low blood sugar by the front door where I waited for my wife. When she found me I told her what happened & we left. I don’t want to waste my time with the rude employees anymore. First time in my life I have ever been discriminated against and wow does it hurt. Especially at a place that is suppose to be welcoming to the public and children. Needless to say I will not be going back to this museum or to Minneapolis where it is located. Minneapolis is known for its discrimination and treatment of people but unfortunately it has spread into the museums as well. I have traveled the world as a Type 1 diabetic and never before have I been discriminated or treated like I was at this museum. If you are a Type 1 diabetic or have a child or family member who is be very careful at this museum. They are not ADA complaint and do not know how to treat guest that are having a low blood sugar incident.

This is well worth the time to visit. Workers are highly knowledgeable and explain everything so well. Kitchen must do.

Well done, vision into the past. Mills, both grain and lumber, powered by the Mississippi River
See how this spurred the growth of the Twin Cities. And the observation deck overlooking the St. Anthony fall is great.

This museum is a great way to learn Minneapolis history and learn about flour. 2 hours total. The 19 min video is fun and well done. The flour tower is cool and the view and top is awesome. If you are visiting, do this!

Great exhibits that are interactive, feel authentic and are educational. Went with two 14 year olds that enjoyed the experience, especially the water tables and hands-on pieces.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip through the museum. We were there for about 2 hours, including the Flour Tower show. There was a lovely farmers market the day of our visit with great local stands of everything from fresh produce to coffee and artisan clothing.

Hey, it's about flour how interesting can it be. Actually pretty interesting. It was very informative how things have been done focusing a strong look at the past. I wasn't aware that this area played as big of a role as it did. Everyone we talked to was well informed. They have a short tour that was very good. Glad we stopped by.

This was such an interesting and engaging museum! The only thing that would have made it better would be having more of an idea about the flow of traffic or direction as to where the onlookers should go. There were fresh cookies made every 10 minutes and handed out in the kitchen where you can learn about the different types of wheat grain and what they are used for. The whole process of making flour is interesting and the unfortunate fire which destroyed most of this building is phenomenal!

We visited on Sunday, parking near the 3rd floor museum entrance. After paying $12 each senior and seeing the boxcar(one of 300 that came to the factory each day at peak production), we took the elevator down to the 1st floor. Here we joined 10 others in a small auditorium for a really good 19 minute film by a local humorist on the history of Minneapolis. Then we entered their main hall of this factory's history, completed by a multimedia ride in a large elevator that ascended the elevator tower with films narrated by previous employees. It ended on the 8th floor where we took another elevator to the 9th floor observation deck that was attended by a docent to point out the many sights: St Anthony Falls/Locks/Generating stations, 1883 2,100’ Stone Arch Bridge and more. Altogether an enjoyable 2 hours of historical presentation.

Fun time learning the history of Minneapolis. After a 19 minute movie you are taken up in an old freight elevator to learn the history of the now crumbling mill. The observation deck up top provides more info and a great view. Main floor has many exhibits about the flour milling industry.

Plan on a couple of hours as there is so much to see and do here. We especially loved the Flour Tower elevator presentation, very innovative and interesting. Both of the labs were interesting as well, and of course the observation deck offers some great views of the river. Last but not least, we enjoyed the Minneapolis in 19 minutes film, which very few people went to. Kevin Kling was funny as we traced 400 years of history in 19 minutes; definitely recommend seeing this if you have the time.

This place has it all - history, interactive fun, great Minneapolis views, a beautiful courtyard and good food! Fun tourist attraction to bring guests to and get a good idea of Minneapolis' history as well as a fun day out for all ages. Highly recommended!

On a rainy day my friend and I visited the museum and were pleasantly surprised at all the number of engaging activities and exhibits of the Mill Museum. It had options for everyone in the family. I enjoyed the displays of old advertisements and flour related memorabilia. The views from the top of the mill were lovely and the guides were incredibly kind and knowledgeable about the city, the flour industry, and the changing landscape of Minneapolis.

Lots of history here if you are into history of the area during the industrial revolution in America. Fred did an outstanding job with the tour, details, great sense of humor and perfect pace for young and old.

This is an old Flower Mill on the bank of Mississippi river reminding the old days. They have tried to retain few items like railway track, a carriage with barrels and photo exhibition to give the visitor a flavor of the old days. There is a restaurant as well. Incidentally, the place is also available for events.

This is the best museum I have been to in long time..The views of it walking across the Stone Arch bridge are terrific and the views from the observation deck of the Mississippi and Arch bridge and city are also terrific... I like the elevator best so informative and moving.... and the guide was great!! answered all our questions and more... Don't miss this place!!!

They do an interesting demo that shows how flour dust can explode but I seen the same thing done in science classrooms. The museum itself is more about General Mills than about flour milling.

Despite other museum having opened, the Mill City Museum remains a casualty of Covid. You can view the ruins from the outside. The modern wing appears inviting but you will have to wait until Covid allows a reopening.

A very interesting place with some interesting history. Learned a good bit about the milling industry. Definitely worth the visit if you're into how things work, get built, process, etc. Highlight was the mill dust explosion demonstration.

Walking around the area was nice too.

A great place to visit and so interesting. We had a great chat with Fred while we were waiting for the tour to start it was fun talking with him. The “theatre” for the start of the tour is certainly unique a small seated area within a elevator. You ride the elevator up and down through the working history of the mill.

As a visitor from out of town, we learnt so much about the history of the flour mill and the work to continue with the upkeep of the museum. Fun artefacts on display that will take you back down memory lane. Nice gift store to take home a couple of mementos something in the store for everyone.

We were in the city and it was a great place to start our day along by the river.

It was a sunny day so great views from the observation deck.

If in town it’s a must do...Excellent. Don’t miss this place!!

A very cool place to visit... Blends the history with modern life seamlessly! Staff was wonderful, friendly, and informative! Beautiful views and reasonably priced!

Great museum to understand the industrial evolution of the city. Loved the elevator, the view at the top and the small movie with explanations on the story of Minneapolis

This old General Mills flour production plant has free common areas including a gift shop, but the museum tour is well worth the $12 (adult) cost. Be sure to take in the "Minneapolis in 19 minutes flat" movie. Part of the museum tour is riding in a mill elevator while you see and hear the history of the plant. Views from the 8th floor are stunning.

We visited family August 2017 and our daughter & son-in-law took us on a tour of Minneapolis. This was one of the highlights of our tour.
Tour guides/hosts for the museum, share interesting facts about the mill's history and the explosion & fire that destroyed a large portion of the building. Lots of exhibits, and some hands on exhibits that are fun. One of the tours ends on the top floor and there is a large glass window that offers a great view of the city. It is hard for me to really describe all the museum offers.
The museum doesn't have it's own parking lot, but there are ample parking nearby.

Our tour guide was Peyton and she was very knowledgeable not only a out the mill and it"s history & the mechanics of it but places to eat in the area. I enjoyed the cooking area and recipe for bread. The elevator ride with a video and different vignettes was nice as well. Nice for families. You could spend about an hour here. Then you can walk along the river or go eat in St Anthony's.

Interesting visit for my wife and I as we learned about the history of Minneapolis in a 20-minute film and then took a large freight elevator up nine stories to the top of the building that used to house the General Mills Flour Mill and its Gold Medal flour. During the elevator ride, the elevator goes back and forth between several floors where videos play and former employees of the plant recount their experiences. At the top, there are nice views of this part of the city and of the falls on the Mississippi River that attracted the milling industry to the city. It is interesting that the large Pillsbury Mill was on the other side of the river. The museum also contains several hands-on exhibits and displays that further describe the history of the milling industry. Parking for the museum is either on the street on across the street at one of several public parking facilities.

I'm so glad that we stopped here. The "Minneapolis in 19 minutes flat" movie provides a great condensed history of Minnesota. Even though I'm from Wisconsin and have been to Minneapolis many times before I learned a number of new things about the history of the city. The elevator tour was also very well done. Great demonstration of the history of flour milling in Minneapolis. I would consider the exhibits a compliment to the elevator tour - you need to do both to get a well rounded experience. We spent about 2 hours here with two teens. There is street parking in front of the building but limited to two hours. We parked in the public lot behind the museum and about a block away. We paid $5 for four hours - which was more than we needed. This museum is worth the price of admission and time to visit!

Learning about flour and the milling process was very interesting and educational. We spent a whole lot more of time here than I expected. Staff was very friendly and informative.

We had gone once with our 5 year old grandson and he shared many details with his older brother, so we did a repeat visit with both boys. Staff is very polite and courteous to answer children with their many questions. Nice mix of interactive play plus history. I love the location near the Stone Arch Bridge.

We were delighted that Mill City was open on a rainy 4th of July when other museums were closed for the holiday. This is a wonderful museum with amazing artifacts from the days when Minneapolis was considered the flour mill capital of the world. The flour tower elevator show was entertaining and informative. There are some great hands-on exhibits for kids of all ages. Be sure and go up to the observation deck to see the power of the river and get a view of another old mill on the other side of the river. The gift shop had interesting items and there’s a cafe, too.

Wasn't expecting a whole lot from a museum about mills and I was very pleasantly surprised.

The presentations were entertaining and I learned a lot about the milling industry and Minneapolis.
The views of the Mississippi River were amazing as well.
Highly recommend!!

I would not say I loved the museum. I feel some of the exhibits were tedious. The film was very good, but the elevator ride was average.

What an amazing adventure. Have lived here my whole life didn't know this was here. Learned alot! The veiw was Amazing! The day we went the weather could not have been better. Highly recommend for all ages!

I have been to this museum many times and always have a great time. My favorite thing to do is view the old General Mill's commercials and grab some fresh bread from the baking kitchen. They have an interesting interactive exhibit about how the river created energy for the Mill. They also have a cool show where you sit in the big elevator and it makes stops on floors above to tell a story about the Mill. Usually it is a general history and also explains the explosion that occurred at the Mill. Sometimes there are seasonal shows you can get tickets to in advance. Also, there is a theater where you can watch a nice video about the history of Minneapolis which is only about 20 minutes. This is a great place to visit for tourists and locals alike.

It was very well kept and peaceful. Enjoyed looking at all the displays of art. My teenagers enjoyed walking around and reading all the descriptions of art

Another great museum to put on your list of places to visit. Learn about the beginning of the milling industry in Minnesota. Great for the kids.

This was on the site of the Pillsbury Mill. We enjoyed the demonstrations on baking and different types of flour. The flour explosion demostration was educational as the mill burned om 1878 and again in 1991. lt was originally built in the 1820’s. The area is upscale and expensive. It is amazing how technology and inventions have shaped out lives. It is worth the time to visit. It was a good place for kids as well.

Before I retired, I worked for an organization that was rehabbing an old factory complex in an inner city. It was most interesting to see a like-factory setting at Gold Medal. The view from the observation deck of the falls was beautiful. You could see the former Pillsbury plant across the river. The test kitchen and old Gold Medal and Betty Crocker TV ads were interesting, but the most interesting were the cinematic tour of Minneapolis in 19 minutes, the Flour Tower "ride", and the museum water features display, showing how the turbines that drove the factory milling process worked off the river. A well worth it experience!

I recommend this museum and paying for the full experience. The short movie was interesting, the Flour Tower tour was very unique and going to the 8th floor and looking out to St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River was beautiful. The museum was interesting and they have hands-on activities for children. Parking nearby was easy to access.

Only drawback was that they didn't describe the milling process that was used.

Great place for kid's and adults. Very interesting presentation on many levels. Hands on and interaction with staff was grand. You will get a BANG out of it.

Great museum with amazing view at top of the city and the falls! The movie is a must see! The exhibits are fun to read and you can taste bread. Great fun for children.

We had a wonderful time touring the museum and learning about the manufacturing of flour back to the 1800s

We appreciated the discounted senior rate. They give you a time entry pass for the Flour Tower. We started out watching the 18 minute movie of the history of Minneapolis - which was interesting. Then we looked at the exhibits. I suggest you go at 2 or later if you don't want a bunch of kids groups running around. It was much more peaceful after they left.

This is a large former flour mill converted into an industrial museum. The exhibition area is very informative, and the short guided tour well done. As a bonus, the visitor gets to have a stunning view of the Mississippi, the waterfall and the other side of the river from the rooftop.

Had some time to fill right before we were flying out of Minneapolis. So we went here with the idea of just looking for something to do.

We are so glad we spent the time going there, it was fascinating!

The tour is incredibly well done as you sit in a old freight elevator going from floor to floor stopping, while you are seated, and watch and listen to different exhibits on video projectors or viewing real machinery that was left in the factory. All the tour guides were very well-versed in the history of this old mill and all that has happened over 100 years there (including an explosion that happened in the 1800s that was very interesting).

The view from the observation deck on the eighth floor alone is worth the price of admission. Looking at the falls on the Mississippi river is beautiful and captivating.

The rest of the museum looked equally as interesting however we didn’t have much more time to visit. I would definitely go back to see all of the museum that we missed and again “the observation deck was amazing.”

I would highly suggest anyone to take the time to go. It was only $12 admission for each adult. $10 if you’re 65+

We spent 4 hours exploring the Mill History in Minneapolis from the 1800. The various displays ranged from planting, harvesting, and processing wheat. It was a rich history which demonstrated how advances in technology impacted not only the wheat industry but our entire lives throughput the US and the world. Well worth the time and expense.

The flour mill history was fascinating! The museum did a superior job of recreating different scenarios within the mill by allowing you to ride the freight elevator. The audio visual was well done. I love everything about this museum.

This museum is definitely worth a stop for all new visitors to Minneapolis. It is informative and well laid out. Great view of the city from the upper floors.

Minneapolis milling companies were founded around St. Anthony Falls. This museum is on the falls and one of the best places to hear about the history of Minneapolis, which is the home of General Mills and Pillsbury.

We've been here several times. Not being a MN native, I really didn't know about Minneapolis being the Mill City. Very interesting and informative. Nice gift shop too. Plan to spend 2-3 hours.

I can’t say what the value for the money is, as my son has a free pass. It was interesting but the guided tour of the mill ruins was very informative.

We came here on a recommendation from a really nice guy at the downtown visitors center, and I'm actually glad we went. I had no idea there was so much to know about flour. The museum is a bit confusing with regard to where to pay your admission - we tried downstairs, got sent up two floors to the gift shop, then got sent right back downstairs where a new person took our money. Weird. There are some hands on things for kids to do, and a test kitchen where you can sample freshly baked bread, view different types of flour, etc. The elevator/movie is very unique, and the views from the observation deck at the end of the elevator experience are just breathtaking.

Detailed explanations of the history and the industry of Minneapolis. Their demonstration devices on how waterpower works were interesting and made it easy to understand.

Spent about two hours, three would be even better. I took my 90 year old mom, she's a lifelong cook and baker for our family. There was a lot of nostalgia pieces but the highlights were the movie of Minneapolis (19 minutes)
and the Tower ride (assigned times every 30 minutes) The ride is in a converted freight elevator, with seating, and stops on several of the 8 floors to show a mock up of the process along with interviews from employees. For men or the mechanically minded there is a lot of machinery and an old steam tractor. There's a working kitchen, with samples. For kids, there's an interactive water room. There are tables that have pieces to move around to create dams and run water wheels. I think my kids would have played there for an hour. Very handicap accessible. All of the above included in price of $12 adult. There's also a cafe inside the lobby, but we didn't eat there. On the 9th floor you can see an amazing view,don't miss it. Even if you don't take the Tower tour you can ride elevator to the top.

We loved this museum! I had never been to a museum about flour milling, so I learned a lot. There is an interesting tour, The Washburn A Mill Tour. The film "Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat!" gives a good overview of the history of Minneapolis. The film is interspersed with "Prarie Home Companion" type of humor.

There are exhibits on the lower floor with many of the machines used in flour milling, a demonstration kitchen (great for kids), a box car with train tracks on the street level , ruins of the fire that destroyed part of the mill, a gift shop, and a restaurant.

Open 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Tuesday-Sat. Noon -5:00 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
Allow 2 hours, more if you are with children due to the many hands on displays.

Wear comfortable shoes, since the floors are cement.

Excellent visit. The elevator tour and city movie were outstanding. It was a little hectic since busloads of kids were having a 6th grade field trip but the kids were respectful and courteous. We spent two hours and read a lot of the information but a lot was skimmed over.
We also took a quick walk to the stone arch bridge . Nice morning 10-12.
Street parking was easy

Stepping into this historic flour mill, you're instantly transported back to the industrial heyday of the city. The interactive exhibits are like stepping into a living history lesson. I was particularly blown away by the Flour Tower ride, which gives you a bird's-eye view of the mighty Mississippi River and the city's milling district. It's a hands-on museum that's as entertaining as it is educational, and the staff are incredibly passionate about sharing the city's rich history. And let's not forget the Ruin Courtyard – a peaceful oasis right in the heart of the city. Mill City Museum is a total win!

Knowledgeable staff, interesting exhibits, learning about life in the past from a different perspective. Had no clue how fascinated we would be when we walked in. I highly recommend this.

I went with a friend halfheartedly to visit this museum and was pleasantly surprised. I learned much more than I thought I would. The exhibits are interactive and the history is fascinating. Definitely worth your time.

It does not take much time but it is a great part of Minneapolis. Well worth the visit. A walk along the river and across the bridge has a bit of history and a bit of geography and plenty of nature.

This was a great place to learn about the Flour Mill back in the day. Great for adults and children alike. Great time!

This isn't really a review just something I needed to get off my chest. So it started out as my just walking around when all of a sudden the floors felt damp. to my surprise the whole room was fluddnig. I trekked my way outside dragging my self through the water. Younge children much smaller then my flooded, lifeless, somehow this was all my fault. Everyone was dieing around me and if only I teach them to swim. When the water died down I was alone, surrounded by the dead corpses of the ones I loved. 10/10 would go again.

We were in town for the weekend and stumbled upon this gem. We had a 73 year old down to an 11 month old and everyone enjoyed themselves. We ended up buying a membership thanks to the knowledgeable cashier - I can’t wait to check out other locations under the MN Historical Museum umbrella. The Flour Tower was great as was the 19 minute video on the history of Minneapolis. Don’t debate it...just go!

Live near Minneapolis but had never made it to the museum. At $12, very reasonably priced for adults. The flour tour elevator gives a good overview of how a flour mill works and ends up on the roof with a great view of the Mississippi. There is a 19 minute film overview of Minneapolis history with naturally a focus on the flour mill. Museum is very professionally done. We did it in two hours (our parking meter was running out) but would recommend budgeting 3 hours. Lots of history. Can't miss. The flour tour tour and the movie are both scheduled when you buy your ticket. We came a few minutes before the museum opened on a Sunday and had no issue; however, bewared - on a busy day suspect that might not be the case.

Originally I contact General Mills because I wanted to learn more about their history and processes, they made it very clear they do not welcome visitors and directed me to the Mill City Museum. This museum clearly has a historical feel as you stand in the remains of an explosion and you get to see and sample a few breads and cakes from General Mills but I left wanting to learn a lot more..

The people who worked their were really friendly and they tried to be helpful too but besides directing your to a very generic movie about Minneapolis, a short history lessen in an elevator and the observation deck I didn't leave feeling satisfied..

Fortunately for us we went on a Saturday morning and were able to experience a wonderful farmer's market and explore a really nice park in close proximity..

We recommend doing the river walk over the Stone Arch Bridge to the east side to first take a look back at the city and the wall of flour storage and processing buildings. The tour itself takes as long as you want it to ... We spent about two hours there after riding the elevator tour to the top of the structure. The devastation from the explosion there in the 1990s gives you a better perception after you compare it to the river walk view.

The Mill City museum speaks to the Minneapolis heritage in the grain milling industry. It is impressive think about the museum being housed in a grain storage which exploded in a fireball.The museum is small and easily can be enjoyed by younger children, who see common place items related to the flour products. A visit here can be combined with the Saturday Mill City Farmers market to give the kids treats to eat. Also nearby are the Mill City ruins and the stone arch bridge and the locks on the Mississippi. Together they make a day long outing.

Truly this was a low expectation-but high return attraction. If you ever wondered why would anyone want to live in a place so cold, you’ll discover the answer here. Extremely informative and entertaining for the whole family.

Hint: Read up on Minneapolis history in Wikipedia before you go and get a head start on the how and why the place was settled.

This is a place everyone will enjoy. Excellent exhibits and interpretive guides-and the glorious smell of baking bread!

Cool place to visit and learn about Minneapolis' flour making history. The flour tower exhibit feels like Tower of Terror at Disney World, without the free fall and the story is about flour making rather than the twilight zone. Nice place to spend an afternoon.

The visit starts with an elevator ride that recounts the story of the mill. I thought that the voiceover was somewhat difficult to understand. The view from the top floor makes the ticket worth it! The museum offers small food samples (not very many) and some water games that adult visitors can also find entertaining. There is a funny movie about Minneapolis that is definitely worth a watch.

Visit this Museum was a really good mix of fun and learn historical things about early milling operation conditions at the same time, the presentations are so educational and very enjoyable... good for kids and adults.

The museum itself is pretty cool. It's a neat look back at the city's history, with some modern tie-ins, which is always nice. It keeps the museum's content relevant. Big ups for that.

But, what's also cool is that the museum has great views of the Stone Arch Bridge, the river, St. Anthony Main, and other staples of Minneapolis. If you can swing it at night, even better.

Other bonuses:

- It's fairly priced
- Farmer's Markets on occasion
- Conveniently located
- Loads of food options nearby (the restaurant inside too)

If you're visiting Minneapolis-St. Paul, this is one of THE places to go -- if not for the museum, definitely the area (like the Stone Arch Bridge, ruins, etc.).

This museum will allow one to have a basic understanding of the flour milling process, it's history, and resulting growth in Minneapolis. Excellent panoramic views of the Minneapolis area along the river, including St. Anthony Falls, the historic JJ Hill railroad bridge, and the Minneapolis city views. It is located in an historic flour mill building, and includes some of the actual flour milling processing equipment.

I like learning about history so this was a nice place to visit. It doesnt take but about an hour or so. You ride this elevator type thing that tells you some history and then you walk around a little. We didnt eat at the little cafe. It does have a small gift shop. Cost is $12 per adult for regular admission. Near place to visit.

The exhibit were a little underwhelming, until we got to the interactive exhibits which were fun and really helped one to understand the critical nature of the river/falls in the business of milling. The Flour Tower show was good and the observation deck was fabulous. Be sure to take in the 19 minute film on Minneapolis history. And get something to eat at Bushel and Peck!

It was something we stumbled on and really glad we found it. Once you go inside, you can then appreciate the importance of the tour. A few short historical films, a lot of static displays and guide tour parts. The tour guides were able to talk about any of the history of Minneapolis. The vast importance of milling grain to the US and how Minneapolis became the largest producer. Showed some of the remainder of the plant that burned in1991.

The Mill City Museum was quite surprising. There's a lot of history here, and they used a unique way to tell it. A short film about the city was also very entertaining. The staff and docents were very helpful. I'm really glad we went.

Nice surprise! Learned a lot about Minneapolis mill history. Flour tower tour and observation deck were the highlights of the museum. Lots of interactive spaces, friendly staff. Redone very well with the industrial look of glass blended with the old mill. Affordable at $10 for military.

We specifically came to Minneapolis to visit this museum as part of our homeschool studies. There was a nice mix of displays, descriptions and hands-on activities. We enjoyed the Minneapolis in 19 minutes flat movie, however the Flour Tower, while interesting, was almost impossible to hear and understand over the noise of the elevator. Closed captioning would have been a significant help (the other movie did have it). The views of the river, St Anthony Falls and the city are very nice from the lookout at the top. This is a great, unique snapshot of the industrial revolution and an industry that really put Minneapolis on the map. We ate lunch at the cafe and, while expensive, it was really, really good.

It was very interesting experiencing the history of the historic flour industry in MN. I always enjoy journeys back into history-- and this was one worth taking.

Visited with wife and 17 yr old daughter. We all thought it was great. It was STEM day so perhaps there was a bit more going on than normal, but for $30 total, it was well worth the 2.5 hours. Minneapolis movie is well done. Flour tower is extremely well done and observation deck is great (exterior closed in winter). We all felt it was well worth our time. Highly recommended.

This museum is, in my opinion, the best in the Twin Cities. It effortlessly teaches you about the history of the area (industry, populations, the setting of the area, etc.). Beautiful building right on the water. Best views from the top of the Gold Medal Flour building. Can easily spend 2-3 hours here.

The museum is located on the riverfront within what used to be a huge wheat mill, powered by the water. It should be noted that the museum is closed on Mondays to Wednesdays.

Good paid parking is available within a short walk. The museum is situated in an eight stories high building and there is much to see and do. We chose to take the Flour Tower tour, which started in a huge elevator and gave a very good glimpse into the history of the mill. We also had the opportunity to see some of the historic machinery.

We visited on a sunny and clear day and also enjoyed a visit to the Observation Deck with excellent views of the Mississippi River and the city.

A good film about the development of Minneapolis is on show and gave some interesting information. A gift shop is available too.

The Mill City museum is an informative, interactive and overall a fun museum for all ages. They have exhibits for all ages, from the history presented in the elevator to the kitchen presentation to the area for the kids. We have gone in the summer and winter. When visiting in the summer, allow for time to go outside and explore the ruins as well as the Stone Arch bridge

Excellent museum. Top notch technology, lots of hands on for kids and the docents knew their stuff for the history buffs. Great views and photo ops. We went at 10 on a Saturday morning while the adjacent Farmers Market was underway. Nice morning agenda.

Taking a short vacation in Minneapolis to take in a Twins game and see the Mall of America. We visited the Mill City Museum to get a little history of the city. No formal tour but staff were knowledge and willing to answer any questions. Multimedia presentation was fun and throughout the visit we learned a lot about the flour mill industry (General Mills and Pilsbury) and what an integral part of the establishment of Minneapolis the milling industry played in it. I would also recommend the video on Minneapolis in 19 minutes flat. It kept the kids interest and really presented a comprehensive overview of the city. Most of the hands-on activities were for younger children. Parking garage across the street. With teens our visit didn't take long, but I would recommend it for all ages.

Visited as a couple, but would be great for people of all ages. What a fun way to learn about the milling business, the building, and the general area! We've been to the area several times and recently found this gem and so glad we did! Well worth your time and good way to spend a few hours! Be sure to ride the elevator and watch the video!

Some of the building was lost during an explosion, but they have recreated some of the equipment and tell you what it did in the process of making flour. We spent about two hours taking the tour, watching the video, and checking out the various displays.

I went one rainy morning to the museum with my 6yo granddaughter. She insisted as she was in having lunch with my sister-in-law and desperately wanted to then visit the gift shop and museum.

I was surprised at how fascinating I found it. The ability of water, the power behind it, to transform a place from a place of reverent beauty revered by people of the First Nations, to a thriving metropolis.

Fascinating! Visit yourself and discover how amazing it is and was.

If you love all things history, I highly recommend this stop. It is a very unique museum experience as you ride to various floors in an old shipping elevator while the history is narrated to you as you watch various scenes. The guides were very knowledgeable and willing to find the answer to your question if you didn't know it. The view is incredible at the top of the Flour Tower. My only advice would be to skip the movie on Minneapolis. It comes off a bit more like a Chamber of Commerce ad piece and not the history of the city.

The main highlight of this visit was the ride up the grain elevator. The ride up the 8 stories takes about 15 minutes with stops on different floors. Each stop has a short presentation on part of the history of the mill. The view from the top is nice. Back down at the bottom, the main floor has some interesting stories on the history of the local baking companies. They also have a tasting kitchen and an interactive water room to play in.

I am a lifelong MN native and had never been to this museum. Shame on me! This was an interesting trip through the early days of the milling industry that put Minneapolis on the map of world players. We took the tour to the top and its observation deck where you have a beautiful view of the Mississippi River area. There was a knowledgeable volunteer there who pointed out landmarks and shared some of the history of the area; we appreciated his interest and expertise. The exhibits in the main part of the museum were also very interesting, showing the process of making flour—lots of artifacts and diagrams—and there is even a working test kitchen. We were there for about two hours with out of state guests and didn’t get to see quite all of what was there, so we’ll definitely go back when we host out of state guests in a couple of months and wrap up our visit. They did have an area that should be of interest to kids so don’t shy away from this place because you think kids won’t like it. The museum is one of the Minnesota State History Sites; it is well done and well worth visiting.

Our family really enjoyed the museum. But the highlight of the visit was the Mill Tour that we bought tickets for in advance. Our guide, Fred, was outstanding. The passion he had for the history of the Mills, and the funny stories he shared, brought the exhibits to life. A big thank you to Fred!

The tour and museum were one of the highlights of my visit to Minneapolis. Loved the museum and all the history about the area. Awesome tour guides, great view of the river and the city from the top! Great way to spend an afternoon.

Very interesting and well presented museum on not just flour mills from yesteryear but also the history of Minneapolis. Luckily, we got there just as a guided tour was about to start...and glad we did that! Got to see different areas of the factory with a really good explanation of the factory timelines and historical events. Next, we watched the 19 minute film on the history of Minneapolis, narrated by a local comedian, who really made it entertaining and interesting. Then we did the Flour Tower ride, which takes place inside an elevator-style retrofitted grain shaft up several floors, opening on each floor to show a piece of history relating to the flour mill story--this is a MUST DO!!! There's a little cafe on site with WAY above average museum food...I got a very tasty, made-to-order cheeseburger...and my sister got an oversized turkey sandwich...highly recommend!

This fine museum tells the history of the flour industry in the area and also offers some great views of St. Paul and the Mississippi River. Inside you get a Disney like ride in an elevator (no, not like the Tower of Terror) as well as displays from the era.

Well laid out with both stationary and interactive displays. The movie and elevator experience helped set the stage for the tour. Children and adults enjoyed themselves.

Great education on the growth and death of industry in Minneapolis. Fantastic reuse of an abandoned building to bring tourists to riverfront.

Don't miss the movie, the view from the observation deck or the demo of how flour is made. Very cool thing to do when visiting the city.

This had to be the most unusual museum we have ever been in. There was a 19 minute video about Minneapolis by a local comic. There were exhibits around the flor of the original Gold Flour Mill. And the coup de gras was a grain elevator-turned-transporter that took visitors on a ride up and down the shaft while telling the history of the mill. Reminded me of the former Tower of Terror in Disney World. Some of the original equipment is also housed in this hundred year old building. It was well worth the time to explore. And an employee was making bread in the tasting lab that we could sample!

The movie is a great overview of the city history. At the end of the Flour Tower tour, you are taken to the observation deck on the roof where you get great views of the skyline and river.

You can stop here and explore a little for free—the building is beautiful and fascinating due to the fire, ruins, and renovation—plus the view of the river and Stone Arch Bridge. However, I recommend paying for the full Museum tour. Be sure to see the 19 min. movie about Minneapolis—EVERY Twin Cities resident or visitor will love it. The other highlight is the elevator ride or Flour Tower that reenacts the explosion. The labs are kid friendly and the observation deck (free) is awesome. I can see using this as an event space too. We also bought a snack and coffee here. Pair this with a trip to the Guthrie 😍 and a walk across the Stone Arch and you’ll probably want to make it an annual event.

Enjoyed the museum and tour through the various floors. The Elevator ride provided a "motion" ride style way of telling the Mill's story. Very kid friendly and provides for a wealth of knowledge for adults. The short documentary was well done, told a great story of the Minneapolis city origins. Expect to spend 1.5 hours there if you want to see and learn everything. There is short stay parking across the street.

It was interesting and worth the stop. Had great history and displays and I learned a lot about the beginnings of the mill industry.

Con: went during weekday and school in process so a class room filled trip going on and kids were running everywhere

We enjoyed this museum. It was full of groups of children and seemed to have many activities geared toward engaging them. Some of the displays seemed disjointed but overall one can learn interesting facts about early milling in Minneapolis.

I happened upon this museum after walking across the rock arc bridge. This museum is very hands on and has a light-hearted feel. I really enjoying the 20 minute film and the flour tower. I've never been to a museum with anything similar.

The public bus drops off 2 1/2 blocks away from this phenomenal museum. Loved the Minneapolis in a Flash movie as well as the moving elevator show. I was amazed by the SIZE of the machines and the dangerous conditions these people worked under. Well worth the time!

I have taken sixth graders on field trips here, multiple times. It’s always a good experience and as an adult, I am not bored. There is enough to interact with for all age levels!