Mill City Museum produces interesting story of Minneapolis’ flour history
Minneapolis was once considered the “Mill Capital of the World.” Mills lined the Mississippi River. Those days ended, but the history lives on at the Mill City Museum.
The museum is housed in the ruins of the Washburn A Mill. Built in 1874, the mill was the largest flour mill in the world during its heyday. It produced about 12 million loaves of bread daily.
The building suffered three major explosions and fires through 1999. The first explosion killed 18 people and leveled the building. It was rebuilt in 1880.
The new building used modern technology for its day, which improved air quality and reduced the risk for explosions. It had air intake equipment which essentially vacuumed the air. It produced a safer working environment.
Eventually, technology improved the milling process. The mill operation shut down in 1965. A fire in 1991 nearly destroyed the building. A 1999 fire may have been caused by arson.
A city agency started working on fortifying the ruins in the 1990s. Soon afterward, the Minnesota Historical Society announced plans to create a museum recognizing the mill history in the Twin Cities. The Mill City Museum opened about a decade ago.
Touring the Mill City Museum is a great way to spend a couple of hours. Definitely plan 2-3 hours to check out the museum and the exhibits.
A fun history film covers the history of the area. “Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat” presents history in a humorous fashion. The host and narrator was hilarious. But, you will learn some interesting facts about Minneapolis.
The lower level of the museum houses artifacts and interactive exhibits. You can find the history of milling told in a couple of exhibits.
Pillsbury and Gold Medal Flour have some great items on display.
A large Bisquick flour box can’t be missed.
The Pillsbury collection includes some Pillsbury Dough boy items.
A box of Wheaties celebrates a Minnesota Twins World Series championship.
Old flour sacks pay homage to old mill companies.
Lisa and I enjoyed an exhibit that featured a long table set for a meal with a stove in the background. Just next to the stove is a life-sized photo of workers in the field. We loved the presentation.
A wheat thrasher appears to be working in the field.
Children of all ages (we can neither confirm nor deny that we tried to build a dam in one of the demos) can try their hand at managing the wild river or navigating supplies downstream.
The Flour Tower tour is amazing! It consists of a multimedia show over a few floors. It explores the history of a mill operation. It educates and entertains folks for about a 10-minute ride. You end at the 8th floor of the Washburn A. Mill, where you get a look at some of the equipment millers used to make flour.
The ninth floor has an observation deck that allows a great view of the Mississippi River and urban area.
You can see St. Anthony’s Falls near the Stone Arch Bridge. The Falls were once larger than Niagara Falls. Through erosion, and then water management, they are their current size. Minneapolis was actually founded near the falls.
Check out the mill’s ruins from the deck. You can see remnants of broken windows and other pieces of interest.
St. Anthony’s Falls was considered a power source by Native Americans and others. The location would prove the perfect spot to set up mills.
Once you finish taking in the sights from the observation deck, head down to the courtyard, where you can a firsthand look at the ruins. The courtyard has an audio exhibit reviewing the importance of the river and the water falls to Native Americans and others.
Before you leave the museum, you may want to check out the restaurant and gift store on the street level.
The Mill City Museum opened our eyes to more history of Minnesota. As often as we’ve been to the Cities, we can’t believe we’ve not visited the museum before. It was an impressive visit.
We recommend visiting the Mill City Museum when you plan your Twin Cities trip.
For more information, please check out www.meetminneapolis.com and www.millcitymuseum.org.
Disclaimer: Thanks to Meet Minneapolis and Mill City Museum for the complimentary passes. However, all opinions and views are ours.