Go, See, Explore: Worldwide Sidewalk Joy
Have you ever walked past a little box on a fence post or a front lawn and thought, “Oh, that’s a cute Little Library? Think again! 😉 This summer, we’re sending Twin Cities families on a treasure hunt, and you don’t need a map to buried gold. You need the Worldwide Sidewalk Joy Map.
Check out more of our Go, See, Explore adventures!
Worldwide Sidewalk Joy Project
The Worldwide Sidewalk Joy Map tracks installations all over the world, including Trinket Boxes, Free Little Art Galleries, Puzzle Libraries, Mug Exchanges, and so much more. These are free, curated public galleries, exchanges, and displays installed in curb gardens, front yards, and on the sides of buildings, created to bring a bit of whimsy and inspiration to the community. And yes! There are several right here in the Twin Cities!
The project was started by Portland-based artist Rachael Harms Mahlandt, who discovered whimsical spots like a pint-sized art gallery, a duck exchange, and a toy car swap while exploring Portland with her two young kids. What began as a local Portland map has grown into something wild. The map now features over 1,700 spots worldwide, with installations across the United States, the UK, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, and more.
How It Works
Head to worldwidesidewalkjoy.com and pull up the map. Zoom into the Twin Cities area and start picking your targets. A few things to keep in mind before you head out:
The map often lists the nearest intersection rather than an exact address. That’s part of the fun. Slow down, look around, and see if you can spy the box. It might be on a fence post, tucked into a garden, or mounted on the side of a building.
If you take a trinket, leave a trinket. That’s the spirit of the exchange. It’s not always a hard-and-fast rule, but it’s good practice and keeps the magic going for the next family who walks up.
Respect the property. These installations are on private land, hosted by neighbors who want to share something cool with their community. Treat the space kindly. ❤️
Make It a Game
This is the perfect low-cost, high-fun summer activity. Pick a Saturday, load up the kids, and see how many Twin Cities Sidewalk Joy spots you can hit in a single afternoon. Keep a list. Take photos. Let the kids be the ones to spot the boxes. You might be surprised how much of the neighborhood you discover along the way.
Many people visiting these spaces have children in tow, and the project is designed to be as family-friendly as possible. Trinket Boxes are especially great for kids because there is always something small and surprising waiting inside.
Get in on It
If you fall in love with the concept, you can submit your own installation to the map. There are so many ways to get involved, including creating and hosting a spot of your own. Imagine being the neighbor on your block who has the trinket box. Your kids would never let you forget it!
Go explore! The Twin Cities sidewalks have surprises, and now you know where to look. 👀
