Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to Loring Park: A Public Art Walking Tour

Minneapolis is one of America’s greatest arts centers, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is like stepping into a shrine that proves it. On this walking tour, you’ll venture into this artistic labyrinth and admire some of the city’s most iconic works.

The tour starts at the Walker Art Museum, located at the site of Thomas Lowry’s former mansion on the “Devil’s Backbone,“ a steep, twin-ridged terrain with a striking silhouette. From there, you’ll stroll through the sculpture garden, pausing at key works including Katharina Fritsch’s electric blue Hahn/Cock, and other lesser-known but equally fascinating pieces.

This tour combines art appreciation, historical context and dramatic stories. You’ll find out how Sam Durant’s Scaffold was met with global outrage in 2017, and enjoy moments of quiet reflection at Jim Hodges’ mirrored boulders. I’ll also tell you about the controversies and characters that shaped this cultural landscape. Before you end the tour back at the Walker Museum, you’ll cross the artist-designed Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge – featuring what’s jokingly known as “the longest poem in the world“ – and explore Loring Park, Minneapolis’ oldest green space, with its own artistic and architectural treasures.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

• Stand before the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture and hear about the playful artistic philosophy behind this iconic landmark
• Learn about the sculpture garden’s 2017 renovation and how Dakota artist Angela Two Stars’ Okciyapi transformed a site of controversy into a celebration of language and community
• Find out how Siah Armajani’s Iranian roots encouraged passionate expressions of democracy in his architecturally striking bridges and gazebos
• Admire Woodrow, one of Deborah Butterfield’s famous horse sculptures, and discover how her Kentucky Derby birthday inspired a lifetime of equine art
• Hear Loring Park’s surprising history, from its tennis courts and rowboats in the 1880s, to its role in providing food during World War II
• Enjoy a unique view of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral and learn about Edwin Hewitt, the architect who designed it while wearing monks’ robes

On this 60-minute art tour through one of America’s premier urban sculpture collections, you’ll see why Minneapolis has earned its reputation as a city that values creativity, culture, and public space.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just curious about Minneapolis’ history, you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the place.