What to do and see in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul: The Best History Museums

Established over the last 40 years, The James J. Fiorentino Foundation Museum houses North America's largest collection of more than 700 Blackforest German cuckoo clocks. In addition to clocks, the collection includes curiosities such as old radios, musical players, painted plates, embracing the beauty of human ingenuity and craftsmanship. Housed in Minnesota's North Loop, the James J. Fiorentino Foundation Museum is one of a kind and is sure to inspire wonder and amazement.

Experience Dakota Culture! Hoċokata Ti's 3,805-square-foot public exhibit, Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake, provides visitors with a cultural experience that enhances their knowledge and understanding of the Mdewakanton Dakota people and their history.

The museum features five beautifully restored World War II aircraft including an AT-6D Texan, a P-51D Mustang, and a Boeing N2S-1 Stearman that was flown by future President George HW Bush during his training as a Navy pilot, and a TBM Avenger. Other displays include aircraft engines, an ejection seat, a WWII Jeep built by Ford, and aviation art. Tours for groups of 8 or more by appointment and the museum is available for small group meetings and parties. Call for rates. We are often open on holidays. Call or check our Facebook page.

An interactive museum with both permanent and changing exhibits, the Minnesota History Center hosts concerts, lectures, family days and other special events throughout the year. The building is also home to the Minnesota Historical Society library and archives, a research destination for schoolchildren, family historians and academics.

Rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail and ingenious mechanical systems recall the powerful presence of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway. Guides lead tours that help you imagine family and servant life in the Gilded Age mansion, the setting of the public and private lives of the Hill family. The James J. Hill House is a National Historic Landmark. The home also includes an art gallery, which features work from the Minnesota Historical Society's collections.

Founded in 1929 by Swan J. Turnblad, this castle serves as a combination historic house/museum that features exhibits and programs of the Swedish culture.

Built into the ruins of what was once the world's largest flour mill, Mill City Museum is located on the historic Mississippi Riverfront. Here, visitors of all ages learn about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the river, and the city of Minneapolis.

Visit The Landing - Minnesota River Heritage Park to discover how 19th-century Minnesotans established their lives on the frontier, farmstead and in villages. Historical buildings are laid out as a timeline from the pre-territorial era through the late 1800s. On weekdays, the historic buildings are not open to visitors, but the grounds are open for hiking and self-guided walks. To tour the inside of the buildings and interact with costumed characters, please visit on open weekends or register for a program.