Minneapolis is a relaxed, progressive city in which people are friendly and cultural experiences are abundant. You should know that attractions in Minneapolis in general provide ample services to help those with hearing loss have a blast. Here are some of the best things to do in Minneapolis:
Mill City Museum
This interesting museum is located in the rustic ruins of an old flour mill right next to where the sturdy and beautiful Stone Arch Bridge crosses the Mississippi River. History buffs will love this museum – it was built in 1880 and is part of the reason Minneapolis was called the Flour Capital of the World until after WWI. See panoramic views of the city and St. Anthony Falls, learn about the production of Gold Medal flour, see the cool mix of the old brick and modern glass facade and learn about the interconnected history of flour production, the river and Minneapolis. Visitors with hearing loss are accommodated with closed captioning for all exhibit films, assistive listening devices and written scripts. Additionally, Mill City Museum has an induction loop for those with telecoil-equipped hearing aids.
Guthrie Theater
Catch a play at Guthrie Theater. See classics like Othello, Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol, or see something modern like How to be a Korean Woman or Tribes. The Guthrie has an assistive listening system with FM transmitters and handheld receivers to be used with headphones or a neck loop for guests with telecoil hearing aids. Additionally, certain plays have open captioning and ASL interpretation.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Visit this excellent fine arts museum to see an internationally acclaimed collection of 900 American and European paintings from the 14th century through today. See famous works like van Gogh’s “Olive Trees,” Poussin’s “Death of Germanicus,” “City Night” by Georgia O’Keefe and several works by Delacroix. The museum also has an excellent photography collection, including the famous Dust Bowl era “Migrant Mother” by Dorothea Lange. You can check out contemporary sculpture and decorative art, Art of the Americas and Asian art as well. For those with hearing loss, the museum offers closed captioning on its videos and special exhibits and assistive listening devices and neck loops for tours, lectures and other public programs.
Outdoor activities
Minneapolis has plenty of outdoor fun for the nature lovers and those who want to stroll in the fresh air. Check out the whimsical Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture. It looks good enough to eat and is located in the marshy Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, just outside the Walker Art Center. Take a three-mile walk or bike ride around Lake Calhoun or rent a pedal boat, canoe or kayak from Wheel Fun Rentals. Head to the 193-acre Minnehana Park to see the beautiful Minnehana Falls, take a bike ride or visit The Longfellow House – a two-thirds scale replica of the famous wordsmith’s home in Cambridge with a long history in the area.
