Visit the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis
My son is passionate about Sweden. His maternal ancestors immigrated from Sweden many decades ago and setup shop in northern Utah. He’s done numerous school reports on the country and loves to learn more about the culture. That love for Sweden is what drew us to the American Swedish Institute when we were planning a father-son trip to the Minneapolis.
We enjoyed wandering the halls of the cultural center and historic mansion. Our favorite part was the Fika cafe and their delicious Swedish foods and desserts.
Here’s a rundown on what you can expect as you plan your visit to the American Swedish Institute.
Directions and Tickets to the American Swedish Institute
The American Swedish Institute is roughly 1.5 miles south of downtown Minneapolis and other popular spots like the Mill City Museum and U.S. Bank Stadium (Home of the Minnesota Vikings). There is a bus route with stops a couple of blocks from ASI. We grabbed an UBER to get to ASI and it was pretty easy. I’m glad we didn’t try and walk it – because 1.5 miles would take longer than we wanted to spend en route.
If you’re driving your own vehicle, there is free parking at the lot on the ASI grounds.
I recommend purchasing tickets in advance of your visit. Although you can purchase tickets at the door, I like the idea of having the tickets in advance and speeding up the process when I arrive.
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The ASI is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – meaning it’s closed on Monday and Tuesday. However, on Thursday evenings it’s open until 8 p.m. FIKA Cafe has the same operating hours as the American Swedish Institute.
Ticket prices are $13 for adults (19+), $10 for seniors (62+), and $6 for youth (ages 6-18) and university students (with ID). Children under six are free. Free admission is offered every Thursday after 3 p.m. Ticket prices vary for special events hosted at ASI.
Explore the Turnblad Mansion
The entrance to the American Swedish Institute is a very modern-looking building. The Nelson Cultural Center was built in 2012 and houses the information desk, gift shop, FIKA Cafe and other exhibit areas. But once you enter and make your way through the halls, you’ll enter the Turnblad Mansion. Built in 1908 for the Turnblad Family, it’s definitely an iconic spot of Minneapolis.
Who were the Turnblads? Swan Turnblad immigrated from Sweden to the United States with his family when he was eight years old. He was interested in the printing business and eventually managed and grew a very successful Swedish American newspaper – Svenska Amerikanska Posten. It was through the success of this paper that he grew his fortune.
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Swan married a fellow Swedish immigrant, Christina Gabrielsdotter, and together they had their daughter Lillian. They moved into the Turnblad Mansion in 1908, but moved out in the late 1920s, donating the mansion to serve as a cultural center for the American Swedish Institute.
Throughout the mansion, you’ll find ornate architecture – perfect for Instagrammers. 😉 It definitely is a very elaborate mansion, with stained-glass windows, a beautiful fireplace and a grand staircase.
The Arts on Display Throughout the Mansion and Center
One of the things I found most interesting throughout the Turnblad Mansion and cultural center were the arts. It was on display around every corner. We discovered an art technique we’d never seen before – sculptures of sorts made out of slivers of colored paper. It was the type of art that I think would be a fun project to try at home to see what we can create.
During our visit, there were some elaborate paper cuttings on display – Paper Dialogues. Do you remember folding up a piece of paper and cutting pieces out of it to make a snowflake when you opened it? Well, these were much more elaborate than that, but a similar concept. It was amazing what those artists were able to do with a large piece of paper. In one room, we gave the snowflakes a shot and were pretty proud of our work. 😉
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But paper cutting and crafts weren’t the only artistic things on display. Textiles were also shown, and I appreciated seeing not only the clothing styles, but also things like the loom that was used to make the fabrics.
Beyond the simple architecture of the American Swedish Institute, there is art around almost every corner of the mansion. The furniture and woodworking were precise and elaborate as well. Our visit garnered a better appreciation and understanding of the arts associated with the Swedish American culture of Minneapolis.
Activities and Programming for Kids and Adults
One of the biggest tips I can offer to enhance your visit to the American Swedish Institute is to check out their programming schedule and plan your visit accordingly. I failed to do that in advance of our visit, so it left us wandering through the mansion with little engagement in the culture. But as I’ve done additional research to write this article, I’ve learned about how much more engaging the ASI can be if you plan around the programming.
Visit the American Swedish Institute’s website to see all the programming available. They center around three different topics: Nordic Handcraft (arts), Nordic Table (foods) and Language and Culture. There are also multiple programs that allow you to learn and engage in the arts and culture.
For example, in looking at their schedule for the coming weeks, you’ll find watercolor painting, demonstrations on how to cook Swedish Semlor (yummy), or enjoy a concert at the Midwinter Folk Festival.
If your schedule doesn’t line up with the programming that’s available, don’t worry. In the basement of the ASI is a playroom that’s perfect for kids. They can test their creativity and put on their own show, or simply enjoy the wandering through the make-believe world they want to create.
Grab Lunch or a Snack at FIKA Cafe
Our favorite part – hands down – about our visit to the American Swedish Institute was FIKA Cafe. They have a very complete lunch menu that includes soups, salads, Swedish meatballs, fish, pastas, wine, beers, cocktails and of course… desserts.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Almond Cake while my son enjoyed his scone. It was a great way to wrap up our visit to the American Swedish Institute, and we even took a few additional treats to enjoy later that day and for breakfast the next morning. It was awesome!
Don’t forget to check out their gift shop on the way out. My son found a piece of art from a local artist and purchased it to proudly hang in his room. There were also handmade gifts, like wood carvings or blown glass. There were so many items, but our budget wasn’t going to allow us to snag everything we found in the store.
The Details
Address: 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
How long to spend: Plan on 60-90 minutes
Cost: Adults are $13; Seniors (ages 62+) are $10, while youth (ages 6-18) and university students with a valid ID are $6. Children under 6 are free. Admission is Free for everyone after 3 pm on Thursdays.
Hours: Open 10-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Open late on Thursday (until 8 p.m.). Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Website: https://asimn.org/
Phone: (612) 871-4907
DISCLOSURE: I received two complimentary admission tickets to the American Swedish Institute, in partnership with Meet Minneapolis, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.
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