The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the city’s most photographed artwork and one of its best free experiences. Spread across the lawns below the Walker Art Center, it holds dozens of sculptures by modern and contemporary artists, but its icon is Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, a giant spoon arching over a pond with a bright red cherry balanced on its tip. Everyone takes the photo, and you should too. The garden is free and open every day from 6am to midnight, so you can wander through on a morning walk, at sunset or after dinner. Next door, the Walker Art Center is one of the most respected contemporary art museums in the country, with changing exhibitions of art, design, film and performance and a collection that ranges from twentieth-century modernism to the newest work. It is a ticketed museum, but under-18s go free, and the Walker runs free Thursday evenings and Free First Saturdays for families. Together they make an easy half day, and the location, just southwest of downtown near Loring Park, puts them within reach of the Basilica and the theatre district. This page links to the Walker’s official visit page with hours and admission.
How to visit: the Walker is at 725 Vineland Place. Gallery hours are 10am to 5pm on Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, with late opening until 9pm on Thursday, and the museum is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Thanksgiving. Adult admission is a modest charge, with reduced prices for seniors and students and free entry for children and teenagers aged eighteen and under. The Sculpture Garden is free and open daily from 6am to midnight.
What to expect: in November the garden is crisp and quiet, and the sculptures look great against bare trees or the first snow, but dress warmly as the lawns are exposed. Spoonbridge and Cherry sits at the far end of the garden from the Walker. Inside the museum, exhibitions change through the year, so check what is on before you go, and allow time for the café and the shop.
Making the most of it: walk the garden first in daylight, then warm up inside the Walker. Thursday evenings are the liveliest time to visit the galleries, and Free First Saturday is a good pick for families.
What to expect
The experience
A free outdoor sculpture park with Spoonbridge and Cherry, beside a ticketed contemporary art museum with changing exhibitions.
Best time
Daylight for the garden, and Thursday evenings for the Walker galleries.
How long
Thirty minutes for the garden, two to three hours with the museum.
Tips
The Walker is closed on Monday and Tuesday; under-18s go free, and the garden is open until midnight every day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers, photographers and first-time visitors who want the classic Minneapolis photo.
- Families
- The garden is free and fun for all ages, and children and teens get into the Walker free.
- Couples
- A sunset walk to Spoonbridge and Cherry, then a Thursday evening in the galleries, makes an easy date.
- Pair with
- Mia for a full art day, or Loring Park and downtown just across the bridge.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden free?+
Yes, the garden is free and open every day from 6am to midnight. The Walker Art Center next door charges admission for adults.
Where is Spoonbridge and Cherry?+
It is in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, below the Walker Art Center at 725 Vineland Place. The sculpture sits in a pond at the far end of the garden from the museum.
What are the Walker Art Center’s hours?+
The Walker opens 10am to 5pm on Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, and 10am to 9pm on Thursday. It is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Thanksgiving.
Is the Walker Art Center free for children?+
Yes, children and teenagers aged eighteen and under get in free. The Walker also runs Free First Saturdays and free Thursday evening programmes.
Is the Sculpture Garden worth visiting in winter?+
Yes, the sculptures look striking in snow and the garden is quiet. Dress warmly, then warm up inside the Walker.
