Mill City Museum

After our walk the other day down the Mpls Riverfront, if you recall, H1 was so excited about her trip to the Mill City Museum, we decided to go as a family.

Mill City Museum chronicles the flour milling industry that dominated world flour production for roughly a half-century and fueled the growth of Minneapolis, recognized across the nation and around the world as “Mill City.” Built within the ruins of a National Historic Landmark — the Washburn A Mill — the museum provides a multi-sensory, interactive journey. The story of flour milling — and its impact on Minneapolis, the nation and the world — comes to life through the eight-story Flour Tower and other hands-on exhibits.

1st we took a "tour" throught the old ruins.

From up on the roof, we were taught about the use of the turbines to power the mills - the kids got to see the real canals, then go and play.

Remember the stone arch bridge from before? Here is another look at it - now the kids got to try and build the bridge and the apron that was originally wooden.

A college education in civil engineering and yes, you too, could build a play apron.

Studying the history of logging - and then getting to play a logging game.

Hannah had an absolute ball with this part - she was the "right height" for the replacing of the logs. This was so interesting to me. Were it not for the fall, Mpls wouldn't be the city it is today.

I absolutely had to take a picture of this. H1 has "Kit" the American Girl Doll from the Great Depression era. In one of the books, her aunt makes her a beautiful new dress from a flower sack. We spoke with some interpretors about how the mills that had the prettiest flower sack sold way more flour. And many families would only buy the large sacks, because the fabric was reusable.