In this bundle of five tours, you’ll join award-winning writer and essayist Frank Bures to explore the history, art, music, and natural beauty of Minneapolis. We'll walk in the footsteps of the Purple One: Prince. We'll delve into the city's pop culture, architecture and historical highlights. We'll dive into adventure on the Mississippi River. We’ll unlock the forgotten history of Minnehaha Falls. And we'll hear the fascinating stories of the world-renown artists whose works are on display in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

In the Footsteps of Prince: Downtown Minneapolis Walking Tour
On this 75-minute tour, we’ll travel through the heart of Princedom to see the Guitar Shop where the artist first jammed in the 70’s, the Orpheum Theatre where Prince was one of the first black musicians to play, and The Dakota Club, which he visited just a few days before he died. As you stroll down Nicollet Avenue, you’ll pass the Crystal Court balcony featured in Purple Rain and the Schmitt Music Wall mural where Prince had his iconic first photo shoot.

Minneapolis River Walk: History Along the Mississippi
This tour is an eclectic, wide-ranging introduction to the history and culture of Minneapolis. Starting at the Open Book literary center, you'll pass U.S. Bank Stadium, walk through Gold Medal Park, stroll under the Endless Bridge and through the milling district. We'll cross the river, walk along St. Anthony Main and end at Nicollet Island overlooking St. Anthony Falls. Along the way, we'll learn about how Minneapolis is the home of Nerf Balls, Prince, and, for better or worse, Zubaz pants.

Mighty Mississippi: A Stroll Along Minneapolis’ River of History
The Mississippi River is North America’s most iconic waterway. This tour begins on Nicollet Island, from where we’ll cross Hennepin Avenue Bridge and listen to a selection of fascinating facts about the magnificent Mississippi. At First Bridge Park, we‘ll turn downstream along the west bank, past the Stone Arch Bridge, where you‘ll hear tales about the river and the resilient people who‘ve shaped its history. Finally, our tour continues beside the Guthrie Theater and Gold Medal Park, which is just one block from the start of the Minneapolis River Walk tour.

Minnehaha Falls Walking Tour: History and Heritage in Minneapolis’ Crown Jewel
Discover the forgotten history of Minnehaha Falls Park, while strolling along the creek from the Longfellow House to the Song of Hiawatha Garden. You’ll learn how Minneapolis got its start, find out what “Minnehaha” means, and hear about “Fish” Jones’ Longfellow Zoo. You’ll see the small Victorian train station known as the Princess Depot, the John H. Stevens House, the Hiawatha and Minnehaha Statue, and much more.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to Loring Park: A Public Art Walking Tour
This tour starts at the Walker Art Museum, located at the site of Thomas Lowry's former mansion on the Devil's Backbone. You'll stroll through the sculpture garden, pausing at key works including Katharina Fritsch's electric blue Hahn/Cock, and other fascinating pieces. The tour combines art appreciation and historical context with dramatic storytelling.

Bundle highlights:
• The massive Washburn A Mill explosion of 1878 and the 35W Bridge collapse of 2007
• The secret history of Funkytown
• Two Guinness World Record paddling attempts
• Spirit Island, the sacred site where generations of Dakota children were born
• The spiral blue notebook where Prince wrote Purple Rain
• The weird world of Paisley Park
• Why everyone made fun of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's The Song of Hiawatha
• The first person to kayak over Minnehaha Falls
• Siah Armajani's Iranian roots and passionate expressions of democracy in his work
• The playful artistic philosophy behind the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry

Join Frank Bures on these five tours of Minneapolis. You’ll come away with stories, laughs, insights and a much deeper appreciation for the past events that made it the great city it is today.