12 Unique Museums in the Twin Cities Kids Will Love
Think you’ve checked all the museums off your family’s Twin Cities bucket list? Think again! Sure, the big-name attractions get plenty of love (and for good reason), but a whole world of fascinating local museums is waiting for your family to explore. Tucked into neighborhoods, historic buildings, and unexpected corners of the metro, these lesser-known museums in the Twin Cities let you explore something new without following the usual tourist trail. Some are delightfully quirky, others are packed with surprising stories, and a few might leave you wondering how you never knew they existed. Best of all, they offer a fun excuse to get out of the house and get curious together. Without further ado, here are 12 of our favorite unique museums in the Twin Cities for families with kids.
Hennepin Overland Model Railroad Museum
2501 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
If your kids love trains, prepare to have their minds blown. The Hennepin Overland Model Railroad Museum in south Minneapolis is a hidden gem with a seriously impressive setup. The centerpiece is a massive 1,800-square-foot HO scale model railroad. It features tiny towns, industrial complexes, and a logging camp along an intricate track network.
Spot miniature shops, detailed buildings, and entire scenes painstakingly crafted along the rails. You can even turn it into a fun I Spy experience with your kids. This isn’t just a static display. Club members operate the trains using real timetables, switching maps, and radio communication. Time your visit right, and you can even see a simulated night operation. Hennepin Overland Model Railroad Museum is part museum, part working railroad clubhouse.
Best for elementary-age kids and older train enthusiasts. This is a look-only display. Please watch kids closely during your visit. The museum is open to the public on weekend afternoons, September through April. Check the website for the most up-to-date hours (they change seasonally).
Minnesota Firefighters Museum
664 22nd Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Sound the alarm! The Minnesota Firefighters Museum is a fun stop in Minneapolis for kids who think fire trucks are pretty much the coolest thing on wheels. This small museum celebrates Minnesota firefighting history. Exhibits include historic equipment and stories dating back to the 1860s.
Start your visit by seeing the vintage fire engines up close. Kids will be amazed by the 1932 Minneapolis fire truck and a 1919 aerial ladder truck from Mankato. The best part? Kids can try on gear, slide down the fire pole, and pretend to be mini firefighters. There’s also a Minneapolis Police Museum section. The Minnesota Firefighters Museum is a hands-on history lesson with plenty of firepower!
We recommend this museum for preschoolers and elementary-age kids. This museum is open the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Check the website for updated hours before planning your visit.
Cafesjian Art Trust Museum
4600 Churchill St, Shoreview, MN 55126
The Cafesjian Art Trust Museum (affectionately called the CAT) is one of the most delightful art museums in the Twin Cities. And it absolutely deserves a spot on your weekend outing list. This off-the-beaten-path museum features modern and contemporary art in an intimate gallery setting. It’s just the right size for kids to explore without feeling overwhelmed. It’s free to visit and welcomes everyone.
Little ones can tackle an art scavenger hunt. Help them find specific pieces as they work toward a small prize. After viewing the gallery, get creative in the family nook. It is stocked with books and drawing supplies. This is undoubtedly one of the most underrated museums near Saint Paul.
This art museum is fantastic for all ages. Check the calendar for free family programs, too, including CAT Kids and Baby Time. Drop-in visits are available Friday evenings and Saturdays. Free guided tours are also available on Thursdays and Fridays for a more in-depth experience (reservations required).
Minnesota Streetcar Museum
4291 Queen Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Minnesota Streetcar Museum offers a unique way to explore Minnesota transportation history with your kids. Forget looking at vehicles behind glass or across the rope. Your family can actually climb aboard and ride a restored vintage streetcar! This museum even holds the largest collection of Minnesota streetcars anywhere.
Minnesota Streetcar Museum operates two historic lines from May through November. The Como-Harriet Streetcar Line travels a mile between Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis. You’ll glide past the lakeside scenery in a charming trolley complete with old-fashioned advertisements and open windows. There’s also a second line in Excelsior.
Best for preschoolers through elementary-age kids (and parents who appreciate a little nostalgia).
Twin City Model Railroad Museum
668 Transfer Rd Ste. 8, Saint Paul, MN 55114
Train lovers who want a chance to actually push the buttons, this one’s for you! The Twin City Model Railroad Museum in Saint Paul packs a remarkable amount of fun into its space. You and your kids can explore 16 model train exhibits. The displays feature everything from detailed Twin Cities landmarks to miniature amusement parks, dinosaur caverns, and LEGO creations. Look for familiar sites throughout the exhibits. You may catch a glimpse of local marvels, like the Stone Arch Bridge and Grain Belt sign, as trains zip through intricately designed landscapes.
It gets even better. Many displays have buttons you and your kids can take turns pushing. Kids can help bring lights, sounds, and moving features to life. There’s even a wooden train play area for little engineers. This is a great touch museum for little ones who love trains.
We recommend this museum for toddlers through elementary-age kids. Visit October through February for the magical Night Trains holiday displays.
Museum of Russian Art
5500 Stevens Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
The Museum of Russian Art in south Minneapolis offers a fascinating glimpse into Russian history and culture. It’s the only museum in North America dedicated to preserving and presenting Russian art and artifacts. The museum offers four galleries across multiple floors.
Inside, you’ll find rotating exhibitions featuring everything from traditional paintings and folk art to Soviet-era posters. Kids will especially like the nesting dolls and colorful holiday ornaments on display. Have kids keep an eye out for the massive Milkmaids, Novella painting, too. It’s one piece most people can’t help but smile at! Plenty will spark curiosity at this museum, even for kids who don’t consider themselves art enthusiasts.
This museum is great for school-age kids and teens who enjoy exploring different cultures and artistic traditions. Children 13 and under get in free, making this an approachable cultural outing for families. The museum is open daily.
American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
If your kids love exploring, creating, and pretending they live in a castle, the American Swedish Institute (ASI) is a must-visit. Housed in the 1908 Turnblad Mansion, affectionately known as “the castle,” this kid-friendly museum brings Nordic culture to life in the Twin Cities. Exhibitions include art, history, and hands-on fun.
Start your visit in the third-floor Family Gallery. This interactive exhibition invites kids to play and create together. Afterward, take a self-guided tour to view the other galleries and the historic mansion. Built in 1908, it features 33 spectacular rooms styled in several distinct fashions, including Gustavian and Moorish.
This museum is more than just art hanging on the wall. It is a place to gather and connect as a family through shared learning. Year-round family programs include storytime, music, crafts, and workshops. Seasonal celebrations like Midsommar and Julmarknad offer even more family fun. When everyone needs a snack break, FIKA Café has family-friendly food (including Swedish meatballs!).
This museum is a great experience with kids of all ages. Kids 5 and under get in free.
Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication
3517 Raleigh Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
For a museum outing that’s a little out of the ordinary, tune in to the Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication in St. Louis Park. This lesser-known Twin Cities museum explores how radio, television, and sound recording have evolved over the years. Kids can get a closer look at vintage radios, telegraphs, telephones, microphones, record players, and early broadcasting equipment. For adults, it’s a real trip down memory lane!
The collections make it fun to trace the technology behind today’s screens and playlists back to its beginnings. Highlights include an extraordinary collection of early radio equipment. Kids will be stunned to learn how this early equipment has evolved and become embedded in today’s smartphones. Youth programs include birthday parties and a Podcast Camp for tweens.
It’s an outstanding stop for curious school-age kids. It is especially engaging for kids who love gadgets, music, or figuring out how things work. Children 4 and under are free.
Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
1256 N Penn Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411
The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery is a small Twin Cities museum with an important story to share. Located in Minneapolis, its permanent exhibit explores the history, art, and culture of Black Minnesotans.
The exhibits move through early pioneers and community leaders to families who arrived during the Great Migration. Many African Americans moved to Minnesota from the South during this movement (between 1910 and 1970). The museum helps kids learn about the struggles and successes African Americans faced arriving in Minnesota during this time. Then, learn about Minnesota women who championed change and voting rights in Minnesota and nationally. From there, exhibits continue to cover the many contributions African Americans have made to the state.
The museum also offers a Children’s Reading Circle and free summer art classes. It’s a meaningful stop for families and encourages conversation across generations. Admission is free for everyone.
Schubert Club Music Museum
75 W 5th St #302, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Calling all young musicians and music lovers. Schubert Club Music Museum, tucked inside the historic Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul, is a fun, interactive stop for families. Kids can play instruments from around the world and explore how music is made.
Across the museum, kids will learn about iconic musicians and their own place in the music world. Hands-on experiences enhance their learning. Exhibits bring the stories of famous composers (like Mozart and Beethoven!) to life through their letters and music. Kids can also experiment with making their own music at the Wall of Percussion. Don’t miss the Instrument Tornado. Swirling sounds introduce kids and their grown-ups to music from different global cultures. The museum features a stellar collection of historical keyboard instruments as well.
Schubert Club Music Museum is an engaging outing for curious kids of all ages. Admission is always free for everyone.
Wings of the North Air Museum
Flying Cloud Airport, 14893 Sierra Ln #72D, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
*Ding* You are now free to move about the cabin. Aviation-loving families can explore new heights together at Wings of the North Air Museum. This air museum is even located INSIDE Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. This lesser-known Twin Cities museum celebrates aviation history with an impressive collection of aircraft, vehicles, and experiential displays.
Kids can get an up-close look at historic aircraft. Museum highlights include a full-size replica of the Spirit of St. Louis. It was used as a prop during a Warner Brothers film. The museum also has a Stearman N2S-1 that former President George H. W. Bush once flew. He received his flight training at the Minneapolis Naval Air Station. After checking out the aircraft, browse the aviation art gallery. The museum also offers family-friendly events throughout the year.
Wings of the North Air Museum is accessible from Gate H at Flying Cloud Airport (use the keypad to alert museum staff of your arrival). It’s a fun outing for aspiring pilots of all ages. One child receives free admission with a paying adult. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays.
The Bakken Museum
3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Electricity, secret messages, Frankenstein, and medicinal plants? Say less! The Bakken Museum, on the west shore of Bde Maka Ska, brings science, technology, and history together. This unique Twin Cities museum features eight indoor and outdoor exhibits designed to spark kids’ curiosity and hands-on learning. It’s even housed in a historic Minneapolis mansion.
Try Benjamin Franklin-inspired experiments in the Electricity Party Room. Some of them are shockingly fun! (We recommend adults try all the buttons first. Some of them can cause small shocks that may frighten younger kids.) Then, step into the world of Mary Shelley. She is known as the mother of science fiction for writing Frankenstein in 1818. Her exhibit showcases her life and work through multimedia and experience-based play. The exhibit even includes a lab designed to bring Frankenstein’s monster to life. Outside, explore the gardens to discover how plants have been used as medicine across cultures.
This museum is especially engaging for older kids and teens, though younger visitors can explore, too. Kids 3 and under get in free.
