The Museum of Russian Art
4.7(1.1K)google
4.5(59)yelp
IndoorEducationalArtImmigrant Culture
Overview
Located in Minneapolis, The Museum of Russian Art is a premier, internationally acclaimed cultural institution housed in a beautifully repurposed, historic 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival building. As the only non-profit museum in North America dedicated exclusively to Russian art and artifacts, it features a captivating collection of imperial-era treasures, twentieth-century Soviet realist paintings, and delicate folk crafts. The gallery provides an objective, deeply educational, and intellectually rich exploration of global history, artistic expression, and complex socio-political eras.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM 5:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun1:00 – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeAn exceptional, specialized year-round indoor art institution housed within a masterfully restored 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival historic church building. Weekday afternoons (Tuesday or Wednesday) between 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM are highly recommended; the vaulted galleries are beautifully serene, allowing for a quiet look at Soviet-era realist prints.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned south of the city center at 5500 Stevens Ave, right off the MN-62 and I-35W intersection. Driving is highly convenient: take I-35W S to the 55th St exit and travel east for one short block. The landmark church roofline is unmistakable, featuring a dedicated, complimentary private parking lot directly flaking the main doors.
Travel Tips
- Housed in a converted 1930s church building, TMORA features zero custom vehicle parking infrastructure; self-drivers must seek parallel street spaces along residential boundaries on Diamond Lake Road.
- The Lower Level gallery exhibits utilize the original church crypt footprint down narrow, single-file steps; standard mobility access requires pre-arranged routing via the facility's back service elevator.
Photo Tips
Best LightGalley structural tracks utilize adapted cathedral window clerestories; intense, blinding glare hits oil canvas groupings between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, making morning hours ideal for art studies.
Reviews
Positive
- Housed in a Spanish Revival church, the building is stunning; its soaring ceilings and divine lighting multiply the visual impact of the paintings, fully living up to its name.
- The only museum in North America dedicated to Russian and Soviet-era art; its realist oils, lacquered boxes, and icons hold exceptional historical value.
- The space is orderly, quiet, and peaceful; the docents possess deep art history backgrounds and unpack the complex historical-political context objectively.
- Infrastructure is nicely maintained, and the attached gift shop sells highly authentic, exquisite hand-painted nesting dolls and amber, priced fairly with no rip-offs.
Heads up
- The overall museum footprint is very small, consisting mainly of a central nave and two mezzanine galleries; casual visitors can finish browsing in 30 to 45 minutes.
- The location is not downtown but nestled in a South Minneapolis residential neighborhood, lacking other walkable sights nearby, which requires a dedicated transit plan.
- Because it's a converted historic church, the upper floors and mezzanines are only accessible via narrow wooden stairs, lacking spacious elevators, creating an accessibility flaw.
- The adult ticket price feels slightly premium relative to the small exhibition size, and there is no dedicated lot, forcing you to hunt for residential street parking.