Visit Mill City Museum and discover firsthand why it is the “Most Explosive Museum in the World,” “The Best-Smelling Museum in the World,” and what makes exhibits like the Flour Tower so amazing “You Won’t Believe Your Eyes!”

Museum Director John Crippen says, “to our knowledge, the Mill City Museum building is the only one in the world that has exploded once, burned twice and ultimately was transformed into a museum within the ruins.” Combine the museum’s setting with award-winning exhibits and attractions, add the aroma of freshly baked goods available to sample, and it’s a recipe for a truly unique museum experience.

To commemorate the museum’s explosive past, from Feb. 15 through March 31 visitors can take in a flour dust explosion daily at 2:50 p.m. Also, every Thursday evening between Feb. 15 and March 29, visitors can enjoy “Mill City Recipes.” Learn the stories behind treasured family recipes from museum and guest bakers, then sample the tasty offerings. Help decorate Valentine cookies, hear Irish tales and sample traditional Irish soda bread, or learn how to bake a Norwegian lefse. “Mill City Recipes” start at 6 p.m. except the March 8 program, which starts at 7 p.m. Mill City Museum guests are treated to delightful aromas and samples of freshly baked goods every day in the Baking Lab.

An Explosive Past

Mill City Museum is built into the historic ruins of the Washburn A Mill, which opened in 1874 and at peak production ground enough flour every day to make 12 million loaves of bread. In 1878, the mill exploded, claiming 18 lives and destroying one-third of Minneapolis’ milling capacity. It caught fire in 1928 and was nearly destroyed again by fire in 1991 (see chronology, attached).

At Mill City Museum, on any given day visitors can witness up to four explosions. In addition to the daily flour dust explosion mentioned above (which can also be done upon request during museum hours), History Player William de la Barre is often available to describe the devastating blast of 1878 and explain how he incorporated new technology to make the rebuilt Washburn A Mill safer.

Museum goers can witness an explosion when they board the incredible Flour Tower for a powerful trip through time. The eight-story, multi-media experience shuttles visitors through the dramatic ups and downs of early Minneapolis. At the end of the ride, guests exit onto the Museum’s eighth floor where they can head to the Rooftop Observation Deck for sweeping views of the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls, the Stone Arch Bridge, Mill Ruins Park and the Museum’s stunning new neighbor, the Guthrie Theater.

Finally, the newest attraction at Mill City Museum, “Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat,” is a whirlwind tour of the city’s history including the story of the 1878 flour dust explosion. The film, written by and starring local humorist Kevin Kling, brings the full Minneapolis story up to the present day.

Mill City Museum is located at 704 S. Second St. in Minneapolis. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays (open until 9 p.m. Thursdays) and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 612-341-7555 or visit www.millcitymuseum.org.

The Society’s calendar of events is online at events.mnhs.org/calendar. The web site also has information about all of the Society’s programs, museums and historic sites. To request a free guide to museums and historic sites, call 1-800-657-3773.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849 to preserve and share Minnesota history. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing.