3-Day Minneapolis Educational Trip

Day 1 You'll See

Day 2 You'll See

Day 3 You'll See

 

This 3-day educational tour of Minneapolis allows your group to see a great selection of top area attractions, including an impressive local art museum and sculpture garden, local waterfalls, and a unique 'gangster' tour.

Day
1

Saint Anthony Falls

This historic urban waterfall is known for its hydroelectric dam and lock system, as well as its history and economic influence on the state overall. Today you can visit the Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam to get excellent panoramic views of the falls and surrounding mills district. Head to the Visitor Center to see exhibits and learn information about the falls and their place in the state's history. A ranger will lead you on a short walk to the lock walls for further information. You will also be able to see the iconic Minneapolis Stone Bridge and I-35W Saint Anthony's Falls Bridge during your visit.

Bell Museum of Natural History

Bell Museum serves as the state's official natural history museum and planetarium. The Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan digital planetarium features regular educational programs, the perfect experience for groups of students. The high tech exhibits throughout bring together science, art, and the environment and overall provide a world-class educational experience. While you are here you can explore the Minnesota Journeys Gallery, take part in hands-on labs like Climate Change Solutions: Geo-Engineering, and choose special field trip programs like the Biodiversity and Conservation: Birds program.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

This zoo and conservatory site sees over 1.9 million guests each year, showing off a wide variety of animals, gardens, and kids attractions within its confines. The zoo is AZA-accredited and the conservatory (Marjorie McNeely Conservatory) is a part of the American Public Gardens Association. Inside you will see all kinds of animals, from anacondas and arctic foxes to wolves and zebras. Take a Zoo Tour to get in-depth details and behind the scenes looks at the animals, this 2-hour public tour taking place before the zoo opens. You will learn the 100-year history of the zoo, get to feed polar bears and giraffes, and meet the zookeepers during this unique tour experience.

Day
2

Minneapolis Institute of Art

First founded in 1883 (built in 1915), the Minneapolis Institute of Art, or MIA, is home to over 90,000 works of art that represent 5,000 years of world history. This fine arts museum displays works ranging from real mummies to European master paintings. During your group's visit, you will see various displays of the world's diverse cultures, this entire museum a monument to a remarkable history of civic involvement and cultural achievement. The permanent collection here has grown from 800 to 89,000 objects, all sorted into 7 main curatorial areas: Arts of Africa & the Americas; Contemporary Art; Decorative Arts, Textiles & Sculpture; Asian Art; Paintings; Photography and New Media; and Prints and Drawings.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Welcome to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the public greenspace near Walker Art Center that holds 60 sculptures by notable modern artists. This sculpture garden was created in 1988 and sits on a total of 11 acres. The area also features a conservatory and an arbor. There are free guided tours each Saturday and Sunday at noon, with the exception of November-March (weather).

Day
3

James J Hill House

The James J. Hill House in Saint Paul was built by railroad magnate James J. Hill in 1891. It is located near the cathedral of Saint Paul and offers tours, art exhibits, and special events regularly. James J. Hill is known for building the Great Northern Railway, something you will learn all about during a guided tour, as well as his influence on the region, his network of family and workers associated with this home, and the marvels of his house throughout. The home features 'rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail, and ingenious mechanical systems', all things typical of James J. Hill's style overall. There are chandeliers, stained glass windows, and delicately carved woodwork throughout to gawk at.

Saint Paul Gangster Tour

The Saint Paul Gangster Tour is the original gangster tour of the Twin Cities. Owned and operated by Down in History Tours, with a base at Wabasha Street Caves, this tour is sure to educate, entertain, and enlighten your group! Follow your guide, a nefarious gangster or his moll, past the sites of nightclubs, kidnappings, and gun battles associated with 1930s gangsters like John Dillinger, Ma Barker, and Baby Face Nelson. You will go past the most infamous gangster hideouts, as well as nightclubs where they socialized! This tour happens each Saturday at noon and lasts about 2 hours.