Birchbark Books & Native Arts

Such a special bookstore with many thoughtful touches and offerings of Native American books, arts and decorations.I knew about this place from the author/owner and was happy to pay this place a visit. The staffs are kind and helpful, and I like the selection for fiction/non fiction and notes they offer. They also have a bunch of kids books and upperdeck for kids I think. The bookstore feels very calming and patrons are also kind and respectful.

Birchbark had a good selection of books about the Native and Indigenous populations in the US.We stopped here on a stop in the 2024 Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport. If you are looking for specialized reading about Native tribes or books written by Natives, Birchbark is the best place in value and variety! The shopkeepers at the counter left us alone but weren't unfriendly as we perused the books. One thing I thought was interesting was the Christian church decor (i.e., pews, Virgin Mary icons, etc.), but that might have just been me. This is a great specialized bookstore for readers looking for Native-based reads!

I visited Minneapolis with a friend for Memorial Day weekend, and we're both big readers and love to visit and support independent bookstores. When we were planning our weekend, we knew we had to stop at Birchbark! Owned by Native American author Louise Erdrich, Birchbark is committed to stocking Indigenous American authors and titles and has an amazing selection of books and other items! I loved visiting the store. It's tiny (and a little cramped) but lovely. Definitely check it out. Support your local independent bookstores (stepping off my soapbox now)!

Wonderful, quaint bookstore with a focus on Indigenous American culture, art and of course books. The owner is author Louise Erdrich, and there is a section dedicated to her many, beautifully written books. The staff are very friendly and I have appreciated their recommendations. Shop local!

Excellent & unusual selection of books with thoughtful staff recommendations. Beautiful inside & out, plants & free seed library out front. Loved the confessional & wood decor inside. There's also art and beautiful jewelry.In addition to 4 books ( would've bought more if it fit in my luggage) I bought sage & sweetgrass lotion & mist.

Whenever I need a present, this is one of the first places I go. I recently came here looking for 2 baby gifts & was reminded how charming this place is. I was so comfortable that I even lost track of time and found I'd been here for over an hour just looking around. This is a Native-woman-owned business, by none other than the award-winning author, Louise Erdrich. I think the store reflects that it's owned by a writer herself and has books you can't find other places. You'll also find a lot of local authors being spotlighted. Birchbark also has an amazing children's book section with the diversity & representation that 99% of other book stores lack. All the staff were very friendly and helpful too. My one additional tip is that it's super easy to purchase books online or over the phone too. Get them delivered right to you if you don't have time to browse, know the exact book you want, or need to bulk order. I've done multiple large orders for work and ordered single books delivered to my home. I've also ordered notebooks, greeting cards, and Native food things for staff prizes too. This bookstore is a gem for the Twin Cities so let's make sure we keep it that way and keep supporting them. Hopefully see you here, losing track of time together!

I think Birchbark might be my quintessential bookstore. Beautiful old building with hardwood floors that creak in a satisfying way, aging stuffed armchairs speckled amongst the shelves, books on every surface possible, handwritten recommendations taped across the shelves, it's the kind of bookstore you see in really good movies. Now that I'm a mama, the children's section actually holds a lot of interest for me now and I absolutely loved Birchbark's selection. The kid corner is decorated with a lovely nature theme, and so many of the books offer insight into Native American history and cultures. I was thrilled they had such a wide variety of boards books, as that's all my bumble bee can handle right now.The other sections are fascinating as well, I can't wait to come back and really dive into their cookbook collection. I've been meaning to read "The Night Watchmen" so I picked up a signed copy. Really exciting that Erdrich owns the store! Would love to come back for a reading. After paying for my books I slyly checked and yep: they tucked a bookmark in my paperback. All the best bookstores do that.Small tip: I used their bathroom and definitely flipped the lock, but apparently that doesn't do anything as someone opened the door while I was mid pee. Thankfully I softly screamed a bunch of stuff and they retreated. Make sure someone stands guard for you if you relieve yourself.

What an amazing store. Every book that they had out I wanted to read. Wonderful staff to.

I love independent bookstores, and this is one of the best. They are warm, friendly and knowledgeable. The place has a wonderfully eclectic range of books, with a focus on native american topics, but lots of other cool stuff as well. They are very kid friendly, with a cool little nook and a loft where kids are allowed/encouraged to sit and read to their heart's content. Highly recommended.

My favorite bookstore in Minnesota. Perfectly curated selection of books. Friendly staff.