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6 Must-See Museums in Minneapolis — Locals’ Picks

By U.S. News & World Report

In Minnesota, known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, it’s easy to soak up some culture, history and art. For visitors to Minneapolis-St. Paul, the hard part is deciding which of its outstanding museums to check out first. The following are some of the cities’ best, according to local experts.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

There are more than 89,000 priceless artworks from six continents at the acclaimed Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its vast collection “encompasses almost every genre of art there is,” says Lisa Heath, W insider at the W Minneapolis – The Foshay. “I always tell people you could spend a week going there every single day and still not see everything.”

Located in a 1915 beaux-arts building in the Minneapolis neighborhood of Whittier, this fine arts museum is free to visit. View must-see masterpiece paintings by Rembrandt, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. Don’t miss its incredible Chinese jade collection or its stone Yogini sculpture from 10th-century south India.

[Read: The Best Hotels in Minneapolis-St. Paul.]

Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s closed Monday.

Walker Art Center

Since 1940, the renowned Walker Art Center has showcased an ever-changing array of modern and multimedia works. “It’s one of the top contemporary art museums in the country,” says Kristen Montag, senior public relations and communications manager at Meet Minneapolis, the city’s tourism association .

Galleries feature Andy Warhol paintings, experimental sculpture and special installations, and its theater has innovative drama, dance and music performances. The adjacent and recently revamped Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is always a draw for families. Free and open from 6 a.m. to midnight, it’s where the city’s iconic “Spoonbridge and Cherry” sculpture is located. Admission to the Walker Art Center costs $14 for adults, and it’s free for those 18 and younger. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s closed Monday.

[Read: 5 Minneapolis Parks to See on Vacation.]

Mill City Museum

Located on the Mississippi riverfront in the remains of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, the Mill City Museum has been touted as the most explosive and best-smelling museum around. “I love it because it gives you a little history about Minneapolis in this historic building,” says Liisa Soulak, director of guest services at the Radisson Blu Mall of America.

All ages enjoy the engaging exhibits and demonstrations: Watch a model mill explode (showing the effects of flour dust), sample homemade bread in the baking lab and take a ride on an old grain elevator called the Flour Tower. Finally, don’t miss fantastic river views from its ninth-floor observation deck. Base admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children 5 to 17. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It’s also open on Mondays in July and August.

American Swedish Institute

Both a museum and a cultural center, the American Swedish Institute is actually housed in two buildings. The historic and castlelike Turnblad Mansion, with its fairy-tale turrets and stone facade, is filled with stained glass, rich handcarved woodwork and some 11 handcrafted Swedish tile stoves. “It’s just beautiful, an amazing place,” says Kirk Williams, concierge at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. The adjacent 34,000-square-foot Nelson Cultural Center offers a cafe and a variety of classes, exhibitions and experiences, all with links to Sweden. The mansion is especially popular when it’s decorated for the holidays, and the annual St. Lucia festival is a big draw.

Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for children 6 to 18 and full-time students with an ID. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with later hours on Wednesday, as well as Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Weisman Art Museum

Designed by famed architect Frank O. Gehry, this teaching museum for the University of Minnesota is interesting for many reasons, Montag says . But most often, she says, “it gets a lot of attention from people who just want to see the outside of the building.” Indeed, the stunning piece of stainless steel and brick architecture is a work of art itself, and truly striking to behold at sunset. Located near the Mississippi River, the Weisman Art Museum has a diverse collection that features more than 25,000 works of art, including ceramics, Korean furniture and contemporary artwork — with special exhibitions and programs scheduled throughout the year.

[Read: 7 Minneapolis Breweries to Visit.]

Admission is free. Hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s closed Monday.

Science Museum of Minnesota

Overlooking the riverfront in downtown St. Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota has been turning on visitors to scientific wonders for more than 100 years. With “lots of interactive exhibits and a theater that plays awesome films, it’s just a really cool place,” says Conor Casey, concierge at the Loews Minneapolis Hotel. All ages love snapping a selfie in front of an enormous triceratops skeleton in the Dinosaur and Fossils Gallery, and examining their own cells in the Human Body Gallery. Visitors can create waves, tornadoes and other natural phenomena in the Experiment Gallery.

Admission is $18.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 4 to 12. Museum hours are Sunday through Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

To experience more of what Minneapolis-St. Paul has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.

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6 Must-See Museums in Minneapolis — Locals’ Picks originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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