The Twin Cities has a number of great museums and institutes. Many of them offer free days, discounts and free events on a regular basis.
- The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is always free (except for certain special Exhibitions). Plus every Second Sunday of the month is Family Day (hours 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.). You will have a blast making art, going on artful adventures, meeting local musicians, dancers, storytellers and more.
- The Minnesota History Center offers free admission to the museum exhibits each Tuesday night from 3 to 8 pm. On Select Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. October through May join local historians, authors and experts for evening conversations about the history that shapes Minnesota and its people at the History Lounge. These Tuesday night events are free and no reservations are needed.
- The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is always FREE, a must see destination – open daily 6 am – midnight. Visitors are encouraged to download the Interactive Self-Guided Tour Experience.
- The Walker Art Center has free gallery admission every Thursday evening, 5-9 p.m and every First Saturday for Family Day from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., with family activities including kids’ films, performances, art-making, games and family friendly food options from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- The Minnesota Children’s Museum is FREE for families every Third Sunday from 9 am – 5 p.m, no reservations required.
- The Science Museum of Minnesota offers students a discount on Friday evenings after 5 pm. Present a valid Student ID at the box office to receive Museum admission for $6 (regular price $13) and Omnitheater + Museum admission for $12 (regular price $20).
- The Bell Museum of Natural History has FREE admission for all visitors on Sundays, hours noon-5 p.m. [NOTE – the Bell Museum is temporarily CLOSED as it relocates its museum to the St. Paul Campus – opening summer of 2018].
- Join star-gazers on Friday nights at the Tate Laboratory of Physics & Astronomy for FREE public viewings and presentations. The Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics schedules public viewings every Friday evening during the fall and spring semesters. The presentations are held in the Tate Laboratory of Physics Room 501-02 at 8:00 p.m. followed by the observing session on the rooftop starting at 8:30 p.m., weather permitting.
- At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum admission is FREE for children 15 and under and University of Minnesota Students. All visitors are FREE the third Monday of the month from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Visitor Center and buildings close at 4:30 p.m.).
