Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

An 11-acre free sculpture park beside the Walker Art Center, home to the city's unofficial mascot: Spoonbridge and Cherry. Forty-plus works, open daily 6 am to midnight, zero admission. It's a 30-to-60-minute wander that everyone — art person or not — enjoys. Winter visits are starkly beautiful and empty.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

When's the best time to photograph Spoonbridge and Cherry?

Morning gives you clean light and few people; sunset puts the skyline glow behind it from certain angles. Winter with snow on the spoon is the sleeper great shot.

What is Spoonbridge and Cherry?

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's giant spoon holding a cherry over a small pond — installed in 1988 and now the de facto symbol of Minneapolis. The cherry stem sprays a fine mist in summer; it's everyone's photo.

Is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden free?

Completely — open daily 6 am to midnight, year-round, no ticket. It's maintained by the Walker Art Center but requires no museum admission.

Is the Sculpture Garden connected to the Walker?

Yes, it's directly across from the Walker Art Center and run by it — but the garden's free 6 am-midnight hours are independent of museum hours or tickets. Do both if the Walker's open; the garden alone is still worth the trip.

How do I get to the Sculpture Garden from downtown?

It's about a 20-minute walk through Loring Park and over the Irene Hixon Whitney pedestrian bridge — which is itself a piece of public art. Buses along Hennepin Avenue get you close; parking is at the Walker's ramp or street spots.

Is the Sculpture Garden open in winter?

Yes, same 6 am to midnight hours, and snow transforms it — sculptures against white with almost nobody around. Paths are maintained; dress for real cold.

How many sculptures are in the garden?

More than forty works spread across roughly 11 acres, from monumental modern pieces to newer commissions like Hahn/Cock, the big blue rooster. A full loop takes under an hour at a browse.

Can I bring a picnic or dog to the Sculpture Garden?

Picnics yes, and leashed dogs are welcome on the grounds. It's a park as much as a gallery — locals treat it accordingly.

Nearby in Ask Minneapolis

• Walker Art CenterMuseum0.09 km · 1 min walk
• Basilica of Saint MaryAttraction0.51 km · 6 min walk
• Sebastian Joe's Ice CreamCafé0.75 km · 9 min walk
• Loring ParkPark0.78 km · 10 min walk
• Surviving a Minneapolis Winter Like a LocalAttraction1.3 km · 16 min walk