FAQ

FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)

We are open year-round but have seasonal entrances. During the summer (May through Sept.), visitors may use the Main Entrance tot he right when entering entering the Minnesota Discovery Center grounds. The Museum and Research Center are also open for access tot he interior park entrances. Visitors may use the Winter Entrance during the winter (Oct. throughApr.). Follow the directional arrows ont he signs as indicated.

The self-guided museum tour is a family favorite. Vistors can begin their tour at any time during operating hours and proceed at their own pace.
Our grounds are family-friendly and great for kids to run around and explore. Visit our Things To Do page for more information.
Families with strollers are welcome to navigate the outdoor grounds. Our 660-acre campus has both paved and dirt exteriors paths. Strollers are welcome on the trolley and at the Glen Mine location. We have a few strollers available for children (best suited for children between 18 months and 5 years old).
Changing tables are located in all restrooms in the museum and on the grounds.

No. Pets (including emotional support animals) are prohibited inside the Minnesota Discovery Center museum or on the grounds. However, we welcome service dogs. For more information, please refer to Accessibility.

No. We do not permit outside food or alcohol inside the Minnesota Discovery Center museum or on the grounds. Personal water bottles and baby/toddler drinks are allowed.

Visitors may consume outside food:
– off the Minnesota Discovery Center grounds,
– at the Redhead Mountain Bike Trailhead
– outside the Summer Entrance
– in the Veteran’s Memorial Park (adjacent to the airplane by the Mesabi Trail)

Yes. The Miner’s Daughter Gift Shop offers an assortment of grab-and-go and snack items (view our Menu) available for purchase and enjoyment on the grounds. Additionally, we sell a variety of drinks (including water). No food or drink is allowed inside the museum or on the trolley. There is a water cooler at the Glen Mine Location. During Minnesota Discovery Center-hosted events, we typically open the food court.

Visitors are encouraged to take non-flash photographs inside the museum or on the grounds. If you post a photograph on social media, we encourage you to tag us and use the hashtags #MNDiscoveryCenter and #WhatWillYouDiscover.

Visitors should refrain from recording video inside the museum or on the grounds. We do not permit recreational or commercial drone use on or above the Minnesota Discovery Center museum or grounds.

Yes. We offer an incredible array of on- and off-site catering services (view our Catering Menu) and a variety of Venue Rentals. Please contact our Sales and Events Manager at Alyssa@MNDiscoveryCenter.org for more information about hosting your event.

The Minnesota Discovery Centers main floors are ADA and wheelchair accessible, and the outside grounds have paved walkways. Our trolley can accomodate up to two (2) wheelchair users, and there is a ramp up the trolley deck. For more information, please refer to Accessibility.

Family restrooms are available at the Summer Entrance and the Research Center.

Five (5) AED’s (Automated External Defibrillator) are on the Minnesota Discovery Center grounds and first aid kits are kept at the Admissions Desk.

Yes. Our lost and found is located at the Admissions Desk.

Yes. We have a wonderful physical and virtual/online gift shop, the Miner’s Daughter Gift Shop.

Yes. We offer free Wi-Fi for our visitors accessing the buildings or grounds.

Visit our Events page for more information.

Smoking and Vaping is not permitted inside the Minnesota Discovery Center grounds. However, they are allowed at least twenty (20) feet from outside door entrances in public areas.

Field Trips FAQ

A group field trip to the Minnesota Discovery Center can include

Self-guided exploration
Guided museum tours
A ride on the trolley to observe the historic Glen Location buildings (May through September only)
A wide variety of hands-on-activities.

Please see our downloadable Education Guide booklet or contact the Museum Educator for more details: EducationScheduling@MNDiscoveryCenter.org or 218-254-6001.

Most of our hands-on activities are designed for preschool through elementary school students (ages 3 to 12 years). We also have presentations and tours intended for middle and high schoolers as well as adults.

The activity descriptions in the Educational Guide Booklet include recommended ages. The Museum Educator can also make suggestions for your students based on experience and interests, so please ask if you need help choosing activities!

Please contact the Museum Educator to check available dates and schedule your group field trip:
EducationScheduling@MNDiscoveryCenter.org or 218-254-6001.

To expedite the process, please provide the following information:
• Your name
• Your contact information (phone number and email address)
• The name of your school or organization
• How many students
• The grade level/s or age/s of the students
• Possible dates that would work for your visit (we recommend having at least two (2) or three (3) options)
• Along with any questions you have for us

The Museum Educator will respond to your request as soon as possible to answer your questions, check availability for your requested dates, and assist you with booking.

For group field trips from September through March, we recommend scheduling at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance.

We recommend scheduling group field trips from April to August at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance.

All field trip requests are subject to space and guide availability. The Museum Educator will help you select a date from the available openings.

Please contact the Museum Educator to check available dates and schedule your field trip:
EducationScheduling@MNDiscoveryCenter.org or 218-254-6001.

How much is group admission?

Adult*

Senior (Age 62+)
Veteran
Active Military

Student (Age 3-17)

Child (2 and under)

FREE

*Teachers and chaperones (Age 21+) are free.

Group Rate:
Non-Member

$3/round

Group Rate:
Member

$3/round

Discover Pass holders can enjoy unlimited Trolley Rides and Mini Golf all summer.

Students/Adult

$10/session

Please see our Education Guide or contact the Museum Educator for more details: EducationScheduling@MNDiscoveryCenter.org or 218-254-6001.

Pricing is an addition to museum admission

Group Rate:
Non-member

$4/ride

Group Rate:
Member

$4/ride

Trolley Charter:
(48-rider capacity)

$250/ride

Our trolley is wheelchair accessible up to two (2) chairs at a time.

Discover Pass holders can enjoy unlimited Trolley Rides and Mini Golf all summer.

Please contact the Museum Educator to check available dates and schedule your field trip:
EducationScheduling@MNDiscoveryCenter.org or 218-254-6001

Student (Age 3-17)

Included in Museum Admission

Adult

$25/session

Limit of 20 students per session

All tours and hands-on activities are limited to 20 students per guide. The number of students we can accommodate on one field trip depends on the available spaces and guides for that date. Usually, we can accommodate up to 40 students on a field trip (split into two groups of 20). For larger groups, please discuss availability and options with the museum educator.

The trolley has a seating limit of 48 passengers.

We require at least one adult chaperone for every ten students. This requirement includes all ages from preschool through high school.

We encourage you to bring additional chaperones if your students need extra attention or guidance. We generally recommend a higher number of chaperones, especially for younger children.

To enable you to bring the number of chaperones you need, teachers and chaperones receive free admission while assisting with the field trip.

Chaperones must be adults, 21 years or older. All teachers and chaperones accompanying the field trip are expected to help maintain discipline and safety within their group.

Students (including middle and high school students, as well as younger children) must always stay with the chaperones. The Minnesota Discovery Center guide may ask chaperones or teachers to assist with a specific activity (e.g., securing students’ attention when noisy or unruly, handing out supplies, helping individual students who need assistance). Please stay vigilant throughout the field trip and follow your guide’s instructions.

Field trip groups are allowed to bring sack lunches. If you want to eat on-site during your field trip, please let the Museum Educator know, and we will set up a lunch area for you.

No food or drink is allowed outside of the specified lunch area. Only cold lunches (sack lunches, coolers, etc.) are permitted. Appliances (microwaves, grills, crockpots, etc.) are prohibited.

You can book a group field trip year-round! However, April through August are our busiest months for field trip groups. Please schedule several weeks in advance if you would like a specific date. For example, field trip openings in May start filling up as early as January of that year.