Burnsville is surrounded by several different museums that provide a wide variety of opportunities to learn, discover, and connect with the history of Minnesota. From the eye-opening and hands-on learning at the Children’s Museum to the possibilities of exploring Historic Fort Snelling, you are sure to learn something new at one of our must-see museums on your next visit Burnsville.
American Swedish Institute
A must-see museum near Burnsville, Minnesota, the American Swedish Institute, intertwines Minneapolis history with contemporary Swedish and Nordic culture. Enjoy exhibits and arts in the mansion, find unique Nordic designed products in the ASI Museum shop or explore Nordic cuisine at the award-winning café. Founded in 1929 by Swedish Immigrant Swan J. Turnblad, step inside for a unique Swedish-American experience complete with stunning architecture and interior design.
Dakota City Heritage Village
Experience rural life in 1900-era Dakota County at Dakota City Heritage Village. The village spans 22 diverse buildings – including an operational blacksmith shop, a newspaper office, train depot, and a family home. You can view live interpretations and demonstrations throughout the year that will fully immerse you in Dakota City heritage. It also features an extensive collection of tractors and other agricultural equipment, with the youngest dating back to 1950.
Admission: Group tours, scout tours, and special programs and packages are all scheduled by appointment and can be found here.
Historic Fort Snelling
A must-see National Historic Landmark built in the 1820s, Historic Fort Snelling is the perfect place to learn about military history from pre-Civil War through to WWII, as well as the history of the contentious, lucrative fur trade, slavery in Minnesota and the US-Dakota War of 1862. The fort is located at the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers and has been extremely significant to many American Indian communities for centuries. Be sure to stop by the fort for the perfect place to learn, share and connect to all the complex stories that make up the history of Minnesota.
Admission: please buy your tickets in advance online or through the box office at 651-259-3015.
Mill City Museum
Built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, the Mill City Museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the river and the city of Minneapolis. It provides hands-on learning and entertainment for the whole family and is the perfect place to discover history, architecture, art and preservation.
Minnesota Children’s Museum
The Minnesota Children’s Museum provides the ultimate family-fun environment for your visit to Burnsville. It embeds research on play, creativity and child development into its interactive learning environment and programs. Their open-ended experiences are designed for children to explore, discover, immerse, imagine and connect, while children of all ages will also be able to get try the museum’s many rotating hands-on exhibits. The possibilities to explore, discover and connect with new ideas are endless when you step foot in the Minnesota Children’s Museum.
Science Museum of Minnesota
Well-known for the unique combination of cutting-edge technology and hands-on entertaining, the Science Museum of Minnesota is a must-visit destination on your next visit to Burnsville. The museum has several innovative exhibits, a 9-story domed Omni theater and a world-class collection of fossils and artifacts. Founded on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Paul in 1907, it also houses a 10,000 square-foot rotating exhibit gallery, five permanent galleries, 10 acres of outdoor exhibits and an IMAX theater. You are sure to find new things to discover when you step foot in the experiment gallery inside the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Whether you are discovering through hands-on learning at the Science Museum of Minnesota or exploring the vast history of the state at the Mill City Museum, you are sure to find something new to learn during your next visit to Burnsville, Minnesota.