From coast to coast and continent to continent, street art — like large format murals and outdoor sculptures — is increasingly popular. These images and statues tell each city’s story in a very personal way, showcasing its history, culture, passion, and pride. Meet Minneapolis via this self-guided downtown walking tour of some of the most notable Minneapolis murals.
This self-guided walking tour of the murals in downtown Minneapolis is about 1.2 miles long. It will take you about half an hour to view these murals of Minneapolis, depending on how long to stop at each destination to take photos and how many silver stars you gaze at when you visit First Avenue.
Sage Advice: If you are visiting Minneapolis by car, I’d recommend parking near the Bob Dylan Mural (the first of seven Minneapolis murals you’ll see) where there is a large public parking lot. Just follow the directions after the last Minneapolis downtown mural to get back to your vehicle.
Do You Have a Favorite Minneapolis Mural?
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1. Bob Dylan Mural
Location: 1 S 5th St
Long before Prince Rogers Nelson was a one word household name, Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota, about two hours north of the Twin Cities. So it only seems fitting to start this walking tour of downtown Minneapolis murals at the work of art honoring legendary Minnesota musician Bob Dylan.
Designed by Brazilian artist Kobra, this five-story, brightly-colored mural is one of the most spectacular murals in Minneapolis. Located at the intersection of 5th and Hennepin, it was inspired by one of Dylan’s most legendary songs. In the mid-1960s, The Times They Are a Changin’ became the anthem for a generation dedicated to advancing civil rights and ending the Vietnam War.
Towering over a large, street-level parking lot, the Bob Dylan wall shows several eras of the artist’s life, from his youth in the turbulent 1960s, mid-life, and now as a septuagenarian wearing his signature white-brimmed hat.
When you’re ready to head to the next Minneapolis mural, put the kaleidoscopic colors of Dylan’s five-decade career at your back and head left down Hennepin Avenue. Turn right on N 6th Street and watch for Gluek’s Restaurant and Bar on the right side of the street.
2. Venice Mural
Location: 16 N 6th St
While you’ve only traveled a few blocks from the first Minneapolis mural to the second, on the northwest side of the German restaurant you’ll quickly discover that you’ve been transported to Venice.
As you gaze at gondolas silently gliding through canals where red and white striped barber shop style poles mark the entrance to Italian palaces, let me tell you a bit about Gluek’s Restaurant & Bar on the other side of the wall.
In 1857, years before the city of Minneapolis was founded, German immigrant Gottlieb Gluek established what would ultimately become Gluek Brewing Company. As business expanded, a new bar and restaurant was built in the Minneapolis Warehouse District on 6th St. Completed shortly after the turn of the century, the three-story brick Gluek Building won awards for the terra cotta details on its facade.
After surviving Prohibition, the Gluek building was sold and reopened as Fransen’s, a bar serving largely blue collar patrons through the 1970s. The building was restored to its original design in 1979, but a tragic fire a decade later left only a charred skeleton. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Gluek Building was rebuilt. Since 1990, the Bavarian beer hall, with detailed woodwork, stained glass, and vaulted ceilings, has been serving up beer, pretzels, bratwurst, strudel, and other classic German fare.
Go inside for a taste of Germany behind a Venetian mural, or head to the next stop on our self-guided Minneapolis mural tour. To get there, keep walking down 6th St and turn left on N. 1st Ave. When you get to the intersection of 1st Ave and S. 7th St. you’ll see a black building covered with silver stars on the left side of the street.
3. Avenue Stars
Location: 701 N 1st Ave
Fanning out along both 1st Ave and 7th St from the point where those two streets intersect is an establishment known as First Avenue. This former Greyhound Bus depot was converted into a club back in the 1970s and is one of the longest-running independently owned and operated clubs in the US. Hosting over 200 concerts a year, this is the place for live music and entertainment in Minneapolis.
But you definitely won’t want to miss the one gold star that glitters on the 1st Ave side of the building. It belongs not to Bob Dylan (who kicked off this Minneapolis mural walking tour), but to Sign o’ the Times singer and purple legend, Prince. In the 1980s, the Minneapolis native made First Avenue his regular venue. He frequently performed his new songs here and featured the club prominently in his film Purple Rain.
Related Article: What It’s Like to Visit Paisley Park, Prince’s Private Estate and Recording Complex
When you’re ready to continue the walking tour, head east down 7th St. As the silver stars fade into the distance, turn right when you reach Hennepin Ave.
4. Baby I’m a Star Mural
Location: 928 Hennepin Ave.
Speaking of Prince, watch for a mural featuring the lyrics of one of his songs on the northeast side of the building at 928 Hennepin Ave. facing a parking lot. Using a Brenda Starr cartoon-like concept, this mural features a line from Prince’s Baby I’m a Star along with a cool pink convertible. When you’re done taking pictures (cuz’ I ain’t got time to waste), continue walking southwest down Hennepin Ave. to its intersection with 12th St.
5. Butcher & the Boar Murals
Location: 1121 Hennepin Ave.
On the 12th St side of this meat-focused eatery, you’ll find a large mural by Minneapolis native Adam Turman. To me Turman’s mural spotlights all that the Twin Cities has to offer, season by season. Turning the corner onto 12th St. from Hennepin and observing the mural from left to right, I see all that a Minneapolis summer has to offer — long days outdoors and beautiful, star-filled nights.
But as the wheat is harvested, beautiful summers become harsh winters. (By the way, did you know that Minneapolis was once known as the Flour Milling Capital of the World?) While I hate cold winters, Minnesotans — like the cute brunette cartoon in the mural — seem to love this season as much as the other three. (Or maybe her hot chocolate is spiked with something amazing.)
And, before you know it, winter has melted into spring and it’s time to spend more hours outside each day by the Stone Arch Bridge and get ready to enjoy those amazing summer days once again.
Sage Advice: Additional murals and canvases by Turman are visible in the restaurant’s outdoor kitchen and beer garden.
When you’re done admiring Adam Turman’s murals, don’t return to summer. Instead, follow spring to the alley and hang a left. As soon as you can make another left (between the Domino’s and the Pizza Hut), take it to reach the next Minneapolis mural.
6. The Bulldog Mural
Location: 1111 Hennepin Ave.
The northeast side of the Bulldog, a locally-owned bar and grill, is the site of two orange- and gold-hued bulldogs with kaleidoscope fur that makes me want to dust off my adult coloring books. The work of mural artist Chuck U, these blue-eyed bulldogs are very good boys who never bark at the Fed Ex delivery guy and whose intricately textured fur doesn’t shed. (If only I could replace one of my doggie boys with one of these bulldogs some days!)
Sage Advice: If you plan on visiting the Twin Cities with your dog, be sure to check out this petiquette guide. It details dog etiquette rules for traveling with your pooch to ensure a “pawsitive” experience for all.
To reach the last stop on this tour of downtown Minneapolis murals, return to the alley and take a left. Follow it all the way to S. 10th St and hang a right. As you approach S. Marquette Ave, be sure to cross to the north side of the street and watch for a very large piece of sheet music.
7. The Music Wall
Location: 94 S 10th St
Towering over a parking lot, perpendicular to S. Marquette Ave, is the Music Wall. This five-story mural displays the third movement of a piece written by French composer Maurice Ravel called Gaspard de la Nuit.
But why?
Back in the 1970s, the building was the home of Schmitt Music. In order to beautify the large plain brick exterior wall, the owners set out on a mission to “make the building sing.” A music store employee was tasked with finding the most visually appealing piece of sheet music, and that’s what inspired Ravel’s work to be painted on the side of the building.
Fun Fact: Pianist Van Cliburn played a Steinway grand piano in front of the Music Wall for a photograph that went viral (well, you know, as viral as things got back when years began with a one and people still read newspapers).
And that brings us to the end of this walking tour of downtown Minneapolis murals. If you parked a car near the Bob Dylan mural, you can return to it by keeping the Music Wall to your left and then turning left on S 9th St. Turn right on Nicollet Mall, a pedestrian street in the heart of Minneapolis. When you reach S. 5th St, turn left, and you’ll find the Bob Dylan Wall on your left just before you reach Hennepin Ave.
What Downtown Minneapolis Murals Are Your Favorites?
Do you have other murals in Minneapolis to add to this list? Which ones are they, and where are they located? Share your recommendations and thoughts in the comments section below.
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Great post, Sage. I haven’t been by Gluek’s in a while (too long), so wasn’t aware of the Venice mural. It looks beautiful. They just did a mural project in an mostly industrial area of St Paul this year – they did about a dozen new murals, with another round coming next summer. And do come back – lots to do here and I’d love to meet you in real life!
I’d LOVE to revisit the Twin Cities next summer! Let’s keep in touch and maybe we can meet up to add all of these amazing new murals to this downtown Minneapolis walking tour post!
We love exploring street arts in different cities. Minneapolis seems to have some great ones. Love the one of Bob Dylan.
It was one of my favorites, too!
These are really cool murals! They just added some in D.C., but nothing to this level of detail! Love the helpful map too!
I will have to keep an eye out for them the next time I’m in Washington, DC!
These murals are amazing. I love how you included the walking tour map! I think my favorite is the bulldog!
It was a cool one!
What a great post, Sage. We absolutely love street art and the story behind it is so often fascinating. You know the Venice mural stole my heart 😉
Oh, yes! Yes, I do! 🙂
I love looking at the street art when I travel. These murals were all beautiful but I especially loved the Venice mural!
Downtown Minneapolis sure has some amazing murals!
What an awesome post! I’d love to see that music mural!
Aren’t murals and other street art the best?
I love all of these! I remember back when I was a kid and the Schmitt Music Mural was about the only one around! There are lots of murals over in the LynLake neighborhood too – we just had about 20 new ones added via a big art project this summer.
I will have to visit that area next trip to Minneapolis. I totally fell in love with the Twin Cities!
I’d love the see the music wall and the Venice mural, very cool!
They were definitely cool. But that Bob Dylan Wall may have been one of the largest, most colorful, and most impressive murals I’ve ever seen!
Love it. I love seeing murals and trying to get really good photos – usually pretty challenging due to cars, people, lighting, signs, etc. I did not know these existed – thanks for bringing those to the readers.
They are tough to capture! When I did my walking tour of Cincinnati, I totally lucked out. And by “lucked out” I mean I got up before the sun on a Sunday and hit it hard before 7:00 am to get those shots!