4 minute read
Day Trip Destinations
from Mankato Magazine
By Nell Musolf
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The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit comes to Minneapolis. Tickets are available now. Courtesy Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
Let’s go to a museum!
Immerse yourself in art this late summer
It’s hot outside, but you’re bored and want to do something fun. Something interesting. Even something educational. After all, school will be starting soon, and it would be nice to take the kids somewhere mentally stimulating as well as air-conditioned.
Luckily for all of us, just a short drive away there are many museums in Minneapolis and St. Paul that offer fun, interesting, educational and air-conditioned spots to spend a sticky summer day. What follows is just a sampling of some of the choices.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. South, Minneapolis, not only has almost 100,000 works of art, it also has free admission, making it a win-win place to go for art lovers of all ages.
Stroll through cool galleries filled with pieces spanning 5,000 years. See classical art as well as more contemporary pieces. Current exhibitions include “Sixties Psychedelia: San Francisco Rock Posters from the Paul Maurer Collection” and “In the Presence of Our Ancestors: Southern Perspectives in African
American Art.” Museum hours are 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Minnesota Children’s Museum
Located at 10 West Seventh St. in St. Paul, the Minnesota Children’s Museum boasts three floors of fun things to do with the kids.
Learn all about dinosaurs at the “Fire and Ice” exhibit that will take you back to the prehistoric time when dinosaurs roamed the planet. After that, you can visit a pretend town and then go up to see the rooftop terrace. Children of all ages will find something to do and plenty to learn during a day at the museum. The museum is open 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Twin City Model Railroad
The Twin City Model Railroad Museum has existed since 1934 and is dedicated to all things train related, from steam engines to Thomas the Tank Engine.
The museum has more than 11,000 square feet of interactive displays and layouts. There are also vintage train cars guests can climb aboard along with artwork, artifacts and equipment collected from local railroads. The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 12-5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults (over age 5) and free for children 4 and younger. It is at 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, St. Paul. The museum will be hosting hobby shows and sales July 24 and Sept. 18.
The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, 1256 Penn Ave. North, Fourth Floor, Minneapolis, opened in 2018 and is dedicated to preserving, documenting and highlighting the “achievements, contributions, and experiences” of African Americans in Minnesota.
The museum carries out its mission via exhibits and events that aim to educate and inform the public. The museum is also a gathering place for community members where people can meet and celebrate Black history. Spend the day at Minnesota Institute of Art with dozens of exhibits on display. Wikipedia
The Minnesota Children’s Museum is full of fun activities for children of all ages. Reservations are required for non-member and masks strongly encouraged for all visitors ages 2 and older. Courtesy Minnesota Children’s Museum
The museum is open 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free.
Immersive Van Gogh
One of the most talked about upcoming events of the summer is the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit. The exhibit opens in Minneapolis Aug.1 and runs through Oct. 31 at a yet-to-be announced location. At the event, visitors will be “immersed” in some of Van Gogh’s most famous works, including “Sunflowers” and “Starry Night” and will feel like they are part of the painting.
According to the Immersive Van Gogh website, the location of the exhibit is being kept a secret until shortly before the exhibit opens, but it has been shared that it will be somewhere in the heart of Minneapolis.
The exhibit has already been shown in several other major cities where it has received rave reviews for being a unique and memorable experience. For more information, go to vangoghnyc.com
