Page Comparison

Riverplace, Nicollet Island, and Mississippi Mile

Hennepin Ave. & Main Street; downtown river area

In the 1800s, the village of St. Anthony was founded on the east bank of the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls. It became a center for the milling and the lumber industry as Europeans settled in Minnesota. Eventually St. Anthony was absorbed by the west bank's Minneapolis as the younger city expanded. After the Great Depression Minneapolis turned away from the river, but today it is coming back and rebuilding. Riverplace and Old St. Anthony Main are now an entertainment, shopping, and restaurant area. Nicollet Island has bike and walking trails, picnic areas, and regular summer concerts. Boom Island Park has a marina, playground, and outdoor performances.

Nicollet Mall, IDS Center, City Center

Downtown, along Nicollet Avenue

Nicollet Mall is both historic and modern, with many new shopping complexes and offices recently built, under renovation or construction. The IDS Center, with 57 floors and a "crystal courtyard", was one of the first modern skyscrapers in Minneapolis.

The Warehouse District/North Loop

Downtown, north of Hennepin Avenue

This old part of Minneapolis, maintained for many years by local artists and musicians, is being rebuilt into many fine restaurants, lively nightspots, and shops. Butler Square, at 100 North 6th Street, is one of the many reconstructed buildings from the city's early milling era.

Target Center

600 First Avenue North Minneapolis

An arena hosting many major music and other concerts as well as the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Basketball games.

Target Field

1 Twins Way, Minneapolis, MN

Stadium holding Major League Baseball games.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

2400-3rd Ave. S.

612-870-3131

This is the Twin Cities' largest art museum, with collections from many periods and countries. Closed Mondays. Free Admission, excepting special exhibits.

Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden

725 Vineland Place

612-375-7600

Permanent and changing modern exhibits. A sculpture garden, featuring a skyline view of downtown, was recently built directly north of it (free admission). The Walker is closed on Mondays; admission is free on Thursdays only.

Orchestra Hall

Nicollet Mall & 11th Street, downtown

612-371-5656

Home of the Minnesota Orchestra. Ticket costs vary, but "student rush" tickets for $15 require that you come one hour before a performance for unsold seats.

Minneapolis American Indian Center

1530 E. Franklin Ave.

612-879-5913

This is the community center for one of the largest urban Native American populations in the United States. In addition to community events and programs, the center houses Two Rivers Gallery, in which Native American peoples, arts, and cultures are depicted through many facets of life. There is no admission charge, but donations are accepted.

Mill City Museum

704 South 2nd St., Mpls, MN 55401

Located on the Mississippi Riverfront, this museum built into a historic flour mill allows visitors to explore the intertwined history of the flour industry, the river, and the city of Minneapolis.

Hennepin Public Libraries

Multiple locations

612-630-6230 for recorded information about hours, and locations

The first time you check out materials from a public library, you will need to request a library card. Free passes to various local museums/sites/theatres are available if you ask for them.

The Lakes

South Minneapolis and other locations

Minneapolis calls itself the City of Lakes because a chain of lakes created by glaciers runs from north to south through the city. These lakes are connected by parks, pathways, bike trails, and the Minnehaha Creek/Parkway: Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, and Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha, to name a few. Minnehaha Falls Park, with a waterfall near the creek's junction with the Mississippi River, is also part of the chain of lakes. These waterways are a major source of recreation. You can rent roller blades, canoes, kayaks or bikes for riding the wonderful network of trails in various locations in these areas. There is a usually a deposit charge required for bike rental, which is returned to you when you return the bike. The deposit is sometimes more than the actual rental fee.

Mall of America

South Ave, Bloomington, MN

Once the second largest mall in America, this megamall is perhaps the most popular in the Twin Cities and is a popular tourist destination. The mall encompasses 96.4 acres and includes over 500 stores as well as an indoor amusement park, Nickelodeon Universe, and the 300-foot-long aquarium, Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium.