Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Minneapolis, Minnesota
By Nicole Thom-Arens
Published in 2024
If you’ve ever googled Minneapolis, you’ve probably seen photos of a giant cherry balancing on a giant spoon. It’s one of more than 60 sculptures in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which is part of The Walker Art Center located in the heart of Minneapolis. The Garden opened in 1988 and spans 11 acres. It is free and open to the public from 6 a.m. to midnight daily. With views of art and the city skyline, it is a must see on your next visit to the Twin Cities.
There’s no single right way to enjoy The Garden. One could spend hours meandering down the paths taking in all of the art around them; one could beeline for a favorite sculpture being sure to capture it at every angle including a selfie; those who desire a more structured visit may want to download the free self-guided tour from the art center’s website. On the day of our visit, Liam and I took the zig-zag path from the top of the hill near the Walker Art Center. Our plan was to stop by before grabbing supper on Nicollet Avenue—I wanted to see the spoon balancing the cherry (Spoonbridge and Cherry). I was struck by how much more there is to explore at The Garden.
There’s no single right way to enjoy The Garden. One could spend hours meandering down the paths taking in all of the art around them; one could beeline for a favorite sculpture being sure to capture it at every angle including a selfie; those who desire a more structured visit may want to download the free self-guided tour from the art center’s website. On the day of our visit, Liam and I took the zig-zag path from the top of the hill near the Walker Art Center. Our plan was to stop by before grabbing supper on Nicollet Avenue—I wanted to see the spoon balancing the cherry (Spoonbridge and Cherry). I was struck by how much more there is to explore at The Garden.
Several areas of The Garden were roped off to reconstruct the north end, which was formerly a marshland. There are more than 300 native trees, shrubs, perennial plants, and grasses throughout The Garden according to the Walker website. The Garden feels like an escape from the hustle of the city. It’s quiet and feels like an escape from the confines of the concrete freeways and skyscrapers, but if you look in the right direction, you’re quickly reminded of where you are.