Minneapolis Institute of Art
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Overview
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is an art museum located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, Mia is one of the largest art museums in the United States. Its permanent collection spans about 5,000 years and represents the world's diverse cultures across six continents.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-6 hours
Best TimeA world-class encyclopedia art museum that is completely free and open year-round. Arriving at 10:30 AM on a Thursday or Friday is highly strategic; this grants you a quiet, beautifully tranquil environment to explore the internationally acclaimed Chinese jade collections and Japanese screens prints before weekend crowds gather.
Getting ThereCommanding a beautiful brick block south of downtown Minneapolis at 2400 3rd Ave S. Drivers can navigate straight down I-35W N, exit toward the city center onto 3rd Ave, and utilize the large paid parking ramps flanking the east wing. Alternatively, Metro Transit bus routes #11 and #18 stop within 1 block of the grand columned entrance.
Travel Tips
- General admission is complimentary, but all bags exceeding 11x15 inches and long umbrellas face mandatory impoundment at the Level 1 Coat Check; open liquid containers are banned from galleries.
- The official Third Avenue parking lot charges premium hourly rates and fills fast; utilize street meters surrounding Washburn Fair Oaks Park instead, while carefully auditing Wednesday street sweeping signs.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- The fragile Asian galleries use ultra-low lighting metrics; tripod, monopod, and selfie-stick usage is completely illegal, and camera autofocus-assist beams must be deactivated to protect pigments.
Reviews
Positive
- The scale and quality of the collection are jaw-dropping, spanning ancient Chinese bronzes, European masterpieces, and African tribal art; it fully lives up to its elite reputation.
- The permanent collection is completely free to the public, an incredible perk among top-tier US art museums that offers unparalleled and unbeatable value.
- The gallery layouts are grand with incredibly smooth paths; multilingual guide information is clear, and comfy sofas are scattered everywhere to help you immerse in art.
- Accessibility features cover the entire museum, from gentle ramps to spacious elevators, and the air circulation and temperature control are top-notch, showing premier management.
Heads up
- Although general admission is free, the museum's dedicated parking lot charges a premium flat rate, and nearby neighborhood street parking is highly competitive during special exhibits.
- Certain popular special exhibitions require separate, high-priced premium tickets; crowd control inside means longer queues, and retail items in those sections are heavily marked up.
- Because the complex was expanded across multiple historic buildings, the connections between some wings can be maze-like, causing first-time visitors to lose their way frequently.
- Due to its gargantuan size, the lack of budget-friendly grab-and-go snack bars hurts; the single cafe gets long queues at lunchtime, making an all-day visit physically taxing.