Minneapolis and Saint Paul are affectionately known as the Twin Cities. They are defined by the Mississippi River, have unique ambiances and consider their own city to be the best. However, they share a mutual love for their state. Come see what over 3.8 million people know that is sure to delight you.
The Dakota Sioux were the first residents of Minnesota. Their territory was claimed by the French in the late 17th century and then purchased by the United States in the early 19th century. Minneapolis, whose name means “Water City,” was established along the Mississippi River. This location was ideal for transportation down to the Gulf of Mexico while Saint Anthony Falls provided power for flour and lumber milling. Since then, the Mill City has grown to over 400,000 residents, making it the largest sibling of the Twin Cities. This cityscape shows a few of Minneapolis’ 36 skyscrapers over 300 feet tall.
Hawthorne Ave & N 11th St Minneapolis, MN 55403 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
In 1970, Mary Richards moved to Minneapolis and became the associate producer for the Six O’clock News. For seven seasons, the opening credits of The Mary Tyler Moore Show froze with the actress throwing her cap in the air. TV Land sponsored this eight foot, bronze statue in 2002 to memorialize the moment. The plaque on Nicollet Mall reads, “Who can turn the world on with a smile?” Sadly, that smile is gone. Mary Tyler Moore died in 2017. Ironically, the sculptor, Gwendolyn Gillen, died two days after the TV star.
S 7th St & Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Architect Philip Johnson had the distinction of designing Minnesota’s tallest skyscraper. Finished in 1972, the IDS Center has 57 stories and its glass façade rises 792 feet. The centerpiece is the Crystal Court. The two floors of shops and restaurants are surrounded by 121 foot walls of zigzagging windows. This atrium is a central hub to the Skyway System. These second-level, temperature-controlled walkways fan out for 11 miles and connect buildings across 69 city blocks. So when it is below zero outside, many Minnesotans walk above the downtown streets without coats.
80 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
When this Richardsonian Romanesque style building was finished at the start of the 20th century, its 345 foot tower was Minneapolis’ tallest. The faces of the four-faced clock are huge: 1.5 feet wider than Big Ben in London. The exterior is a striking combination of rose granite and green cooper. The Municipal Building was designed as the Minneapolis City Hall and the Hennepin County Courthouse. The historic landmark still provides offices for city and county employees.
350 S 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The Minnesota Twins had always shared their home field with the Minnesota Vikings football team. In 2010, the baseball players moved out of the Metrodome and into their own stadium costing more than half a billion dollars. The ballpark of the two-time World Series Champions is typically ranked among the best in the country. Naming rights from the beginning have gone to the Target Corporation. The home-based retailer is the second largest discount chain in the United States.
1 Twins Way, Minneapolis, MN 55403 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, the architect who designed the Basilica of St. Mary, also created the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The two churches are co-cathedrals for the Roman Catholic diocese in the Twin Cities. This exquisite classic revival structure was built with white Vermont granite. It has twin bell towers reaching 116 feet and is topped by a copper dome. In 1926, it became the first basilica in the United States.
88 17th St N, Minneapolis, MN 55403 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The Basilica of Saint Mary’s nave is a masterpiece of church architecture. It is defined by arched, stained glass windows and a barrel vault measuring 138 feet. The marble altar is encased in a baldachin suspended by four Doric columns. Soaring above is a dome plus lantern. Together they reach a height of 200 feet. These are a few of the features earning the pro-cathedral a listing by the U.S. Register of Historic Places.
88 17th St N, Minneapolis, MN 55403 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
In 1988, Claes Oldenburg, along with his wife Coosje van Bruggen, created this delightful, oversized sculpture called Spoonbridge and Cherry for the Walker Art Center. The spoon weighs 5,800 pounds and the cherry with the water streaming from it is 1,200 pounds. It is one of 40 outdoor artworks in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
14357 Loring Greenway, Minneapolis, MN 55403 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The Minneapolis Brewing and Malting Company was formed by a merger in 1890. Three years later, they introduced Grain Belt. The brand became their signature beer until the company closed in 1929. After Prohibition, the Minneapolis Brewing company began bottling again. In 1975, the brewer was sold to a competitor in La Crosse, Wisconsin. However, since 1941, this iconic sign has been a landmark at the end of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge on Nicollet Island. The 50 foot tall and 40 foot wide advertisement contains over 1,100 incandescent bulbs.
Hennepin Avenue Bridge & 1st Ave NE Minneapolis, MN 55401 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The First Universalist Church was built with a Greek Revival design in 1854. In 1877, French Canadians purchased the city’s oldest church and renamed it Our Lady of Lourdes. This was a tribute to the Marian apparition that had recently occurred in Lourdes, France. In the foreground is the Merriam Street Bridge. The truss bridge has a 147 foot span across the Mississippi River. This was part of the Broadway Avenue Bridge when it was constructed by the King Iron Bridge Company in 1887.
95 Merriam St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
When your winter is the second coldest in the lower 48 states, you learn to embrace it while wearing plenty of layers. One example of outdoor fun is the annual Ice Castle. In 2012, it was located in Miller Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. This winter wonderland was built on one acre with 30 million pounds of icicles. It was inspired by a castle Brent Christensen first created in the backyard for his children.
8250 Shoreline Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions