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Highest-rated museums in Minnesota by visitors

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Jon Rehg // Shutterstock
Jon Rehg // Shutterstock
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Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.

With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Minnesota on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

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#30. Museum of Illusions Mall of America

Tripadvisor

1 / 30

#30. Museum of Illusions Mall of America

- Rating: 4.8/5 (63 reviews)
- City: Bloomington
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Minnesota Transportation Museum

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Minnesota Transportation Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (105 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Minnesota Children's Museum

Tripadvisor

4 / 30

#27. Minnesota Children's Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (365 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Tripadvisor

13 / 30

#18. Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (194 reviews)
- City: Walnut Grove
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. The Museum Of Russian Art

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. The Museum Of Russian Art

- Rating: 4.7/5 (403 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. S.S. William A. Irvin Ore Boat Museum

Tripadvisor

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#13. S.S. William A. Irvin Ore Boat Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (421 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. American Swedish Institute

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. American Swedish Institute

- Rating: 4.6/5 (517 reviews)
- City: Minneapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Science Museum of Minnesota

Tripadvisor

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#7. Science Museum of Minnesota

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,141 reviews)
- City: Saint Paul
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Spam Museum and Visitor Center

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. Spam Museum and Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (734 reviews)
- City: Austin
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Glensheen - The Historic Congdon Estate

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Glensheen - The Historic Congdon Estate

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,305 reviews)
- City: Duluth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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