Minneapolis Institute of Art

MIA is a fun place to check out if you are into art or history. It's mostly free but they do accept donations. They do run a paid exhibit from time to time. Staff were very nice throughout the exhibits and even offered to help take me and friends pics. There's a lot to see. We went on the Sunday afternoon and it wasn't too busy. MIA is connected to the children's theater and when they have plays going on parking can be a bit much. But overall it's pay lots, ramps, street parking & metered parking. They do have a smaller cafe, also a restaurant I think but we could not locate it when we were there.

I've been her twice before with volunteering (thru my employer) for Rock the Cradle events.A cold Saturday in January brought Sis and I here. We were looking for something cheap to do for a couple of hours, and you can't beat free.Parking was easily found in a small lot, just kiddie corner to the NE of the building. And it's a short half-a-block walk to the museum entrance. I knew I wanted to see European American stuff so we headed straight to the 3rd floor. Things from the 1600s (more biblical paintings of archangels, St. John the Baptist, church vibes) took Sis's interest. I leaned more toward late 1800-Early 1900s European. My favorite was a large painting of chrysanthemums. Was surprised when I read the note card next to it, that it was a Monet painting. He painted it prior to his famous waterlilies. I thought I would like Modern Contemporary but I learned that's a big nope. I prefer Impressionalism, Pointillism, oil paintings. I appreciate all art, but who knew that today would be so educational.We hit the gift shop before heading out. There was a lot of variety to see on there as well. There was also a little Cafe, but it was super busy, line out the door. Many tables to sit to eat/ drink your beverages but again... all were occupied. Seemed like lots of people thought it was a good day for art.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art is a must-visit for art lovers! With free admission and three full floors packed with incredible art and exhibits, it's a cultural treasure. There is an attached parking garage for $18 which is not a bad price as it will take you 2-3 hours to truly enjoy the entire museum. Or you can try and find street parking in the local neighborhood. The range of art is impressive, from ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to explore the collections without feeling overwhelmed.My only minor complaint is that parking can be a bit tricky during busy times, and some popular exhibits can get crowded. Still, the sheer quality and variety of the art make it well worth a visit. A true gem in the Twin Cities!There is also a coat check which I recommend during the winter as it gets a bit toasty and it's annoying to carry a jacket thru the entire museum. They also have a gift shop which was filled with some cool things to buy. There is also a cafe with light bites and refreshments as well.

We are so lucky as Minnesotans to have such a beautiful art gallery. I have been frequently, at least once a year and find it so fun to revisit my favorite pieces as well as enjoy their latest spotlights. The giant sunburst is amazing to see in person at the entrance and the place has always been clean and well maintained when I've visited. They host variety of community events ranging from highbrow to family friendly and they are always well run with interactive activities often provided for children. The staff is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. Plus they have extra amenities like a coat check, a restaurant, and a stage for theatre as well. This is a must visit if you're a Minnesota local or someone visiting from out of town. We loved the ice sculpture exhibit in particular!

Always a fun place for an outing for a few hours. Similar to the Como Zoo, there is no entrance fee here, but a suggested donation. Important to note that there are sometimes specific exhibits which will charge a fee and require a ticket. Learned that the second Sunday of each month is family day, so expect it to be a little more crowded during that time, or if there is an event next door at the Children's Theater. Displays seem to rotate seasonally and there are always a couple "special" displays going for a month or two. Worth checking out!

I love the MIA; the fact that it's free is just a cherry on top. My husband and I popped in on a whim on Saturday. The museum was busy but not unbearably so, we were able to see all of the exhibits we wanted to. The fact that it's free allows for us to just see SOME things & not feel pressured to see all of it every time, which is really nice. The gallery spaces & building themselves are also beautiful. In all, this is a gem that anyone from in or out of town has to see!

This is one huge, beautiful and free museum! It's a great place to spend some time.We spent 4 hours here and could have spent 4 days more. It's a wonderful collection of various artworks. Paintings, statues, furniture, paneling, pottery, and on and on.We will most certainly be back the next time ewe are no the Twin Cities.

Whenever I visit a new city, I try and visit one of their museums. I also discovered that the Minneapolis Institute of Art has a piece by my favorite artist ever on display - "Olive Trees" by Van Gogh. Knowing that, I wanted to make sure to visit the MIoA to not only see the "Olive Trees" piece in-person, but also to enjoy a signature museum of this city I was visiting for the first time. Also, it doesn't hurt that the MIoA is free to enter (special exhibits often require an extra ticket at a cost). Donations are recommended (and appreciated), but visiting MIoA's permanent exhibits is free and accessible to all. There are three floors to wander, including themed galleries for Asia, Africa, Ancient Art, and the Pacific Islands on the 2nd floor. The 3rd floor contains mainly Modern & Contemporary, Europe, Judaica, and others. Make sure to take a floor map of the museum with you - but if you're like me and looking for a VERY specific piece as well? You can search the museum website for the gallery location of a particular piece (and yes, I did find "Olive Trees" on view in gallery 355). I do recommend visiting during the week (if you're able). I actually visited around 11am on a random Thursday morning and was surprised to see pretty much every seat in the museum cafe was full, and there were actually a good number of people wandering the museum (and that was after a bus or two of school-aged children were leaving just as I was arriving). It wasn't packed (like you often see when visiting places like MoMA or other museums in NYC), but it was still a surprising number for a Thursday morning. TL;DR Well done museum with a greater-than-expected variety of works. Friendly staff, and visiting (unless you're there for a special event or exhibit) is free!

I've came here twice, once for for their Black History Month event and again yesterday for Bike Night and the Black Waters Screening.The museum is always free so I think everyone should try to check it out if they can. There is a coffee shop and store inside on the first level. There are several exhibits so you may want to speak out you visit over a couple days or just focus on 1 or 2 exhibits.The event nights are fun because they have a great DJ and they serve drinks!

Ambiance 4/5 Very beautiful art and background information. A great place to frequent in any occasion. Its a plus that the Children's theatre is attached. Service 5/5 Great customer service at the front desk, and Agra Culture restaurant. Price: Free.99 for entry - can't beat that $12 for parking. Can typically find off-street parking however it was Saturday morning and jumpin. Everybody and they mama was there, lol. Overall 4/5 Parking can be a pain sometimes but its totally worth the beauty inside.