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The Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis, MN

Photo: August Schwerdfeger, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFree

The Basilica of Saint Mary

1600 Hennepin Ave · Minneapolis, MN

Why you should go…

The Basilica of Saint Mary on Hennepin Avenue was designed by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray in the Beaux-Arts style and dedicated in 1913, and in 1926 it became the first basilica in the United States. Its white Vermont granite walls stand beside two 116-foot spires, and its dome rises 138 feet above the sanctuary floor. During the current restoration the upstairs nave and its 82-foot barrel vault are closed to the public, tours are suspended, and Mass is held in the lower-level hall.

  • #basilica
  • #historic church
  • #architecture
  • #stained glass

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to The Basilica of Saint Mary, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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    See a 52-foot spoon balancing a giant red cherry over a pond in the free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

    0.2 mi awayMore like this

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    Walker Art Center & Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

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    Cutting-edge contemporary art beside the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry in the free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

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    First Avenue

    $25–$50

    The legendary club where Prince filmed Purple Rain, still the Twin Cities' beating heart of live music.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Nightlife

  • Attractions
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    Target Field

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    Tour the Minnesota Twins' downtown ballpark, from the dugout and clubhouse to the press box, or catch a game.

    0.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

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    Stone Arch Bridge

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    James J. Hill's 1883 stone rail bridge, now a beloved walk-and-bike crossing over St. Anthony Falls, freshly restored and fully reopened in 2025.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
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    Cathedral of Saint Paul

    Free

    One of America's grandest domed churches, crowning a hill with sweeping views over downtown St. Paul.

    8.9 mi awayMore like this