Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Across from the Walker Art Center sits what many consider one of the boldest and most unique displays of art in the country, if not the entire world. Inaugurated in 1988, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a showcase for more than 40 works of art including major sculptures by George Segal, Ellsworth Kelly, Jenny Holzer, Henry Moore and Franz Lipschitz.

The entrance to the 11-acre garden is bordered by Ampersand, a pair of colossal granite columns by Martin Puryear. During the warmer months, the 300-foot stainless steel arbor planted with a variety of blooming plants and colorful flowers is spectacular. The garden's centerpiece is the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture and fountain by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The 55-foot spoon topped by a 15-foot red bing cherry is the garden's most famous display.

The Garden is open year round. Even in the dead of winter, visitors make the trek to the Cowles Conservatory on the west side of garden to view the changing display of blooming plants. The small conservatory is also home to a Frank Gehry-designed giant fish with scales of glass that rests on its tail in a pond surrounded by orange trees.

Admission to the garden is free. The conservatory is open 10am-8pm Tue-Sat; 10am-5pm Sun.

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