Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
4.7(7.7K)google
4.4(288)yelp
FamilyDate SpotOutdoorPhoto SpotCity LandmarkFreeMust-SeeLocal FavoriteContemporary ArtSculptureArt Installation
Overview
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is an 11-acre (4.5 ha) park in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States. It is located north of the Walker Art Center, which operates it in coordination with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. It reopened on June 10, 2017, after a reconstruction that resulted in the Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden being unified into one 19-acre campus.
Practical Info
Every day6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeThis premier 11-acre outdoor contemporary art park peaks beautifully from May to October. The absolute defining slot is sunset (6:30 PM to 8:00 PM) on a clear evening; the low sun blazes across Claes Oldenburg's iconic 'Spoonbridge and Cherry' fountain, casting golden silhouettes against the downtown skyscraper sky.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned adjacent to the Walker Art Center at 725 Vineland Pl. Driving a car is highly convenient: take the I-94 W highway to the Hennepin/Lyndale Ave exit. The most seamless parking solution is pulling directly into the underground paid Walker Art Center Garage, taking the elevator straight to the sculpture garden lawns.
Travel Tips
- The grounds are joint-governed and enforce a strict no-fly drone ban; recreational wheels like bikes, skateboards, and scooters are completely barred from lawns and confined to peripheral asphalt pathways.
- The adjacent Walker Shop Garage utilizes steep hourly pricing scales; secure cheaper metered spots along Centennial Place instead, taking care to check signage for Thursday early-morning street sweeping tow-away hours.
Photo Tips
Best LightThe iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain and its reflecting basin are drained for winterization from November to April; time your visit between May and October to capture the active water spray and reflections.
Reviews
Positive
- The iconic 'Spoonbridge and Cherry' sculpture is a classic; framed against the distant Minneapolis skyline, it is visually spectacular and highly photogenic.
- This is a completely free, open-air park accessible 24/7; the greenery is manicured like living art, and walking the wide, flat pathways provides a rich creative vibe.
- The location is fantastic, directly connected to the Walker Art Center via an iconic pedestrian bridge, making it seamless to experience both indoor and outdoor art.
- Infrastructure is beautifully maintained with well-spaced benches and plentiful trash bins; despite being downtown, it offers a relaxing oasis free of commercial hassle.
Heads up
- This is a purely outdoor park with no pavilions or shelter; it gets scorching hot under the midday summer sun and brutally freezing in winter, hurting the experience.
- The park doesn't offer free parking; its dedicated metered spaces are limited and charge premium hourly rates, forcing visitors to hunt for paid spots at peak times.
- There are no permanent public restrooms inside the garden; visitors must walk into the adjacent Walker Art Center, which becomes an issue once the center closes.
- As a prime city landmark, large tour groups and crowds permanently swarm the main sculpture; getting a clean photo without strangers in the background requires a long wait.