Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota is a major natural history and science museum located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, recognised as one of the leading science institutions in the American Midwest. Its permanent collection encompasses natural history, archaeology, anthropology, palaeontology, and human biology, while its Omnitheater — one of the largest domed screens in the world — has made it a destination for science film since 1978.
At a glance
- Type
- Natural history and science museum
- Period
- Founded 1907; current building opened 1999
- Style
- Contemporary civic architecture; Mississippi riverfront campus
- Location
- 120 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Coordinates
- 44.9425° N, 93.1010° W
Overview
The Science Museum of Minnesota was founded in 1907 as the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences and has grown into one of the ten largest science museums in the United States by attendance. Its current building, opened in 1999, was designed to maximise views of the Mississippi River and contains over 1.7 million artefacts and specimens across its collections in palaeontology, anthropology, natural history, and science and technology. The institution is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and places a strong emphasis on interactive, inquiry-based learning for all ages.
History
The museum’s origins lie in the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences, established in 1907 by a group of citizens committed to natural history education in the Twin Cities. It occupied several buildings in Saint Paul over the following decades before a major capital campaign in the 1990s made possible the construction of a purpose-built riverfront facility. The current building, designed by the architectural firm Ellerbe Becket, opened in June 1999 on a dramatic site above the Mississippi at Kellogg Boulevard. The museum has continued to expand its collection and programming through major travelling exhibitions and long-term community science initiatives.
What you see
The museum’s permanent galleries include a palaeontology hall with life-size dinosaur skeletons and an extensive fossil collection representing the ancient ecosystems of North America, and an anthropology gallery featuring one of the most significant Native American archaeological collections in the Upper Midwest. The human body gallery uses interactive exhibits to explore anatomy and biology, while the natural history collections include specimens from around the world. The William L. McKnight–3M Omnitheater dominates the east wing with its tilted dome and state-of-the-art projection system for immersive science films.
Cultural significance
The Science Museum of Minnesota is a civic anchor for Saint Paul and the broader Twin Cities region, serving over a million visitors annually and functioning as a primary science education resource for schools across Minnesota and the surrounding states. Its collections in Native American anthropology carry particular importance as records of Upper Midwest cultures, and the museum has worked with indigenous communities on repatriation and collaborative stewardship of sensitive materials.
Practical information
- Address
- 120 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102
- Admission
- Paid; separate ticket for Omnitheater; check smm.org for current prices
- Hours
- Check official website for current opening hours and seasonal schedule
- Website
- smm.org
Getting there
The museum is located in downtown Saint Paul on Kellogg Boulevard, overlooking the Mississippi River. Metro Transit Light Rail (Green Line) stops at Central Station, approximately a 10-minute walk. Several city bus routes serve Kellogg Boulevard. By car, the museum is accessible from Interstate 94; a paid car park is available on site. The adjacent Xcel Energy Center and Ordway are within easy walking distance.