On the edge of the Mississippi River in downtown St Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota is a well planned regional museum with many intriguing aspects. More than a million people visit every year making it one of the most popular museums in Minnesota. The museum's close proximity to Minneapolis draws even more people every day. The history of the museum dates back to 1907 when it was first founded. Since then the collection has grown and developed into one of the most notable in the region.

Inside the 70,000 square foot facility visitors will find a whopping 10,000 square feet of temporary gallery exhibits and five permanent display halls. When combined, these two spaces include technology, physical science, the human body, culture, paleontology and the Mississippi River affording lots of things to do during your visit.

Right outside the picturesque windows the Mississippi River flows fast and free creating a beautiful backdrop to the Minnesota Science Museum. The outdoor exhibits are displayed over ten sprawling acres. Indoors the anthropology exhibit includes Hmong culture, masks and textiles from the Highland Maya and features an unsurpassed collection of Mexican and Central American ceramics. There are also 3D shows and other presentations in the 3D Science Theater and Omnitheater so make sure to check for show times.

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In the Biology hall the Human Body Gallery is the biggest hit. Visitors love the Cell Lab which is an interactive experience that allows you to get hands on education about cell biology. Some of the special projects include Habits of the Heart, Tissues of Life and Malaria. In each section different learning tools are utilized making learning fun and interesting while at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

The Experiment Gallery is a hit with kids and provides an opportunity for them to get hands-on experiences through activities and exhibits. Topics for kids include Spinning Things, Weather, Optics and Math Marvels. The ever-loved Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery taps into our curiosity about these long-gone yet still fascinating creatures. The 82-foot-long skeleton of the Diplodocus was discovered by Minnesota high school students almost two decades ago! Mounted for all to see kids get a big thrill by seeing each piece carefully integrated in this massive reconstruction.

The Big Back Yard encompasses interactive outdoor exhibits along with a fun mini golf course. When at the Science Museum Minnesota visitors shouldn't miss this exciting and rare chance to learn outside. The events outdoors include an illustration of river motion, the evolution of the landscape and biodiversity. There is also a highly acclaimed solar-powered building, a camera obscura, a prairie maze and gardens for even more fun and learning.