ONE DAY: ST. PAUL - SECTION FOUR

SECTION FOUR:

IT'S POETRY IN MOTION . . .

RECOMMENDED TIME WINDOW: Wed/Thur - 2:15pm - 5:00pm Fri/Sat - 2:15pm - 6:00pm

Disregard Time Window if doing A La Carte or going at own pace

Before leaving Cossetta, take a read of the following literature about where we’re heading next:

We’re heading to the Science Museum of Minnesota, just up the street and down the corner from our current position.

Why here? Why not the History Center just up the street and around the opposite corner?

It was honestly a toss up. I have to admit, the History Center is my favorite museum in the Twin Cities metro. If you’d rather go there, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking for on brand JUST Minnesota related learning, this place takes you through the history of the state, the Native Americans, the settlers, the Iron Range, our industry, World War II, a great exhibit on a tornado that hit the metro in the 60’s, various special exhibits, etc.

The reason I’ve picked the Science Museum over the History Center is merely for the sheer tourism and spectacle of the former (and the fact that in Netflix's Stranger Things, Dustin wore a shirt from this place in Season 2!). I’ve set out to show you the biggest and grandest things St. Paul has to offer the One Day Visitor, and I’d say the History Center is more of a Day 2 kind of thing. The History Center is more nuanced, particular and involved. A bit more heady, mature.

Whereas the Science Museum has MORE. Lots of things to get into. Great production. Great exhibits on all kinds of generalized topics that anyone can relate to and find something of interest. It’s the most tailored museum for tourists and residents of all ages. Dinosaurs, the body, physics, the Mississippi River, outer space, chemistry, etc. Most metros have their version of a museum of history and science and it’s always a treat to visit these different palaces of knowledge to see how they go about presenting their unique spins on these topics.

Plus, the Science Museum has an Omnitheater! An IMAX screen that’ll blow audiences with more secure inner ears away (and make those with less secure inner ears blow their lunch away!). It was the first convertible theater in the northern hemisphere, able to show normalized flat-screen shows, regular wall projected IMAX films, and ROTATING DOME IMAX FILMS!!!!! It is currently the world’s third-largest digital laser IMAX dome theater. (Science Museum of Minnesota Wikipedia)

The tickets for adults are $34.95 and for children are $24.95. The tix include general admission to all of the exhibits plus the Omnitheater.

Now, why are there two Recommended Time Windows for this Section? The museum closes at 5pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 8pm on Friday and Saturday. If you came on a Wednesday or Thursday, I’d stick with the exhibits area to see the most of the facility in such a short time. If you came on Friday/Saturday, I’d add the Omnitheater into your experience.

Let’s head over to the facility at this point.

Exit Cossetta. We’ll find ourselves on 7th Street W.

Cross the street to the side with New Bohemia and Truck Park.

Turn left and head toward the Grand Casino Arena. Pass Hampton Inn and Zamboni’s on 7th.

Turn the corner on W Kellogg Blvd. to the right. Cross the diagonal Eagle St. and traverse Kellogg across from the arena. We’ll eventually pass a parking structure to our right. Immediately past this is the Science Museum.

Go inside the main entrance and purchase tickets. IMPORTANT NOTE: When purchasing tickets, you'll be asked which Omnitheater show you'd like to watch. For the Fri/Sat visitors, I'd suggest the 4:00pm showing.

SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA Once tickets are in hand, stop and read the following. After this reading, I promise to get out of the way until we’re finished with the museum.

The museum facility is set up in three floors that uniquely descend from the main floor. The building is set on top of the Mississippi River bluffs. Three floors (5 - Main, 4 and 3) plus a backyard exhibit outside.

If you’re wanting to go off on your own, feel free. As always, I have my preferred way that traverses an “excitement level stairclimber” if you’re sticking with me.

At this time, take note of the Omnitheater entrance right near us. The Omnitheater is on this floor off to the right of the Exhibit Entrance. The museum does a good job at announcing the shows on their PA system. Once it's showtime, this is where you'll return to. Whatever show you decided to go to, enjoy!!

I then like to peek into the Mississippi River Visitor Center for a quick look around. It’s located just past the main entrance doors. This place compliments the other exhibits on this floor . . .

Before heading through the Exhibit Entrance, there’s a stairway off to the left (past the Explore Store, which is also worth a look) that has a quirky musical stairs system that’s entertaining for a minute, if so inclined.

Once through the Exhibit Entrance, partake in the exhibits on this floor: another exhibit on the Mississippi, Collector’s Corner and the Towboat.

Views of the Mississippi River from the higher floors of the museum really help give a glimpse into the past. From the Indigenous settlements to the first bustling white settler landings.

This floor complete, locate the giant astronaut guarding the stairway. Go down one floor to Level 4.

Let’s do a clockwise rotation around this Level.

Dive into Weighing the Evidence and the excellent Human Body exhibits. Hopefully, you’re not too squeamish to check out the actual sliced slabs of human tissue . . . and The Mummy . . .

Next, let’s visit the “We Move and We Stay” and “RACE” exhibits.

We’ll then hit the Special Exhibits and Science Superheroes Exhibit.

Discovery Hall may or may not have something going on.

Level 4 is complete!

Now, I’m going to throw a curveball in our museum trajectory:

Locate the elevators instead of the main stairwell. Go down to the Backyard Exhibit for a quick look around. This exhibit dabbles in topics dealing with energy, sound, plants, weather, etc. This is also a good time to take note of the origins of the city. This is where people made landing on their travels up the Mississippi, the head of navigation, eventually turning a bustling landing site turned village into the capital city of St. Paul. Here's to a quick salute, a wink and a nod, to how it was and what it is.

Next, come back to the elevators and travel up to Level 3.

Level 3 is the main attraction! The most museum-y floor. Exhibits upon exhibits, constant experiments popping off everywhere. If there’s a chemistry show going on at the Atrium Stage, it’s worth a look. I especially love when the performers are handling liquid nitrogen!

Let’s switch up the rotation on this Level. Let’s go counterclockwise and start with the Dinosaurs & Fossils area. It’s a bit more calm here.

Now, let’s jump into the madness!!! The Seismofon, the Wave Tank, Sportsology, Math Moves!, the TORNADO and Experiment Gallery.

After this floor, three words of advice: Wash. Your. Hands.

At either 5pm (Wed/Thur) or 6pm (Fri/Sat), it'll be time to get out of this crowded experimental craziness! Have fun in the museum and Omnitheater!!! See you at either 5pm or 6pm.

At 5pm or 6pm, let’s find ourselves on Level 5 again.

Time to walk. We’re going to venture from the hustle and bustle of the modern downtown entertainment district to the quaint and charming (and calmer!) Cathedral Hill neighborhood for a historical walk, some cocktails, some fine dining, more historical walking!

Time for a more . . . sophisticated and aristocratic angle on St. Paul.

CLICK HERE TO START SECTION FIVE: CATHEDRAL HILL - BARONS, BISHOPS AND BOOZERS!