The arrival of the Somali Museum of Minnesota is something long overdue to the metropolitan area. Naturally, this has added to the multicultural richness of the Twin Cities. There are two key exhibits missing from the collection of the museum: the first should focus on documenting a visual history of the Somali Diaspora in Minnesota. Such an exhibit can be initiated by depicting images from the first families arriving in Minnesota from the early-1990s to the present. The same exhibit can also recognize key members of the diaspora that have contributed to the cultural & intellectual enrichment of the Twin Cities while avoiding political themes & topics. Secondly, the museum should have an exhibit on Somali Bantus detailing their history & how their ethnic identity forms part of an integral whole of Somali culture overall. Perhaps the Somali Museum of Minnesota can also work toward hosting a permanent diplomatic mission from Somalia specializing in diasporic affairs? Considering the Twin Cities hosts the largest Somali Diasporic Community in North America, the Somali Museum of Minnesota seems like a logical place to host an official Somali diplomatic mission outside Washington D.C. Finally, the museum should also consider introducing a library featuring Somali literature & transcribed oral poetry with a separate area dedicated to transliterating books from English into Somali for purposes of developing a shared intellectual perspective between both languages.

Small but powerful. The best part? The staff was amazing. So incredibly kind, friendly and fun! Don’t be turned off from the size of the museum by the way. We spent about an hour there and we could have easily spent much more time! There is so much information and the tour was excellent and well explained. I appreciated how things were explained, we were invited to ask questions and then given a couple minutes to look around and read more information before we moved on to another section of the museum. The worst part? I wish we would have stayed longer!! It was just lovely. They also have a small gift shop in what I think is the office area. It’s very easy to miss and it’s all in one display case so it’s small but I went home with a book written by the founder of the museum that explains the artifacts even more. It was $20 and worth every penny! I am learning Somali so seeing part of the book written in that language was exciting. I think they need to move the display where people can see it though, otherwise you’ll miss out on some neat items. I also wish the museum was easier to find so more people would know it exists, maybe a bigger sign outside so they know it’s in a basement. Either way, I’ll be stopping by again for sure and our visiting friend from London had a great time too! Mahadsanid!
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
$11–15

My girlfriend and I had a great experience! We learned so much about the complex and fascinating history of our Somali friends and neighbors. Our tour guide (I'm sorry I cannot remember your name!) really was the highlight of our visit. She was friendly, informative, and opened up about her personal experience with Somalia which was powerful and insightful. The location is really the only downside to this Museum, as it deserves a much larger space with better public visibility. But between the numerous historical artifacts, well laid out displays, and our wonderful tour guide, we spent well over an hour there and would highly recommend this museum to anyone considering a visit!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$11–15

Founders did wonderful job. If you want to know something about Somali culture, here is great place to experience. I met Mohamed who’s a volunteer as Visitor Experience Representative. He is absolutely great mentor. And give us highest welcoming. The only thing I want let know the administration of the museum. The Somalis have same culture and some religion but they live different countries. So if the name of this museum is “Somali museum” the museum must Represents all Somalis people. The map and flag that I have seen there is the Somalia’s only. And Somali people from five different regions. Somalia, NFD Kenya, Somali Galbeed(Currently Somali Ethiopia), British Somaliland(Current self Declared Republic of Somaliland) and French Somaliland (Djibouti).

The Somali Museum is fairly small but is packed full of artifacts and history. Some of the artifacts are from the Somali Museum that was destroyed in the civil war and are quite rare. A good deal of the displays have to do with the Somali people when they were primarily nomadic living in rural areas. I found it very interesting to learn much about a very visible population in Minneapolis, but one that most people know very little about. The museum is located in the lower level of the building. They could use a more prominent sign. I would suggest arranging a guided tour to get the full experience.

It's a great start and the young Somali men and women who started this endeavor know they're not quite their yet, with regards to the small space they're currently displaying out of, the lay-out, and the quantity of items displayed at the Museum. The young man who gave us the tour was very knowledgeable of the subject at hand. He made our visit interactive by asking us questions and kept engaging us throughout the tour of Museum. Definitely worth a visit!!!!

This is a great little museum! We were surprised how much we learned about Somalia from the tour guide. While many of us are used to the hyper-polish of Big Donor museums, smaller shoe-string museums are often more charming and earnest. Here's hoping for a wonderful future for this institution! (For tourists, it's close to Midtown market (cool food court), which you can walk to along the Greenway bike/walk path. It all makes for a fun outing!)

Tucked away in the basement of Plaza Verde, the Somali Museum of Minnesota is an unassuming gift to Minneapolis. Although small, the museum's wonderful tour guide and exquisite curation give Somalia's history an uncommonly good sense of scope and context. Touring the Somali Museum of Minnesota was probably the most fun I've ever had in a museum, and I also happened to learn a bunch. You literally cannot get here fast enough.

Super informative guided tour in a small museum on east lake street. Highly recommended if you’re interested in learning more about the history and culture of Somalia. (Make sure to get a guided tour! We happened to get there when it was opening so the guide was available right away.) Fun fact: Minnesota has the largest population of Somali people outside of Africa.

Coming from Seattle, the museum was one of the places I was so excited to go and explore. However, when we got there it was closed. We had a young man contact the people who were in charge of the place and when he did, she couldn't tell us how far she was and told us to come back another day. Extremely disappointed. please do better.

It really was inspiring and very educational. The guy that gave us a tour went into great details to explain each of the pieces. They're very welcoming, I would definitely go there again. Not only that but they hold events for the public so if you live in the area keep an eye for that.

Thank you Somali Museum for keeping the importance of our culture and its artifacts, last week i had a great tour together with my kids and we enjoyed. kids learned more about their country and its culture. Thanks Seid for the wonderful tour you provided to us.

A nice museum to stop at if you have a couple hours free. The guide was great and really enthusiastic about the history. It would be really helpful, however, to have more didactic text around for when you're just browsing after the tour.

Mr. Ali gave us a very informative and personal tour of the museum. He shared his knowledge of Somali history and culture in a way that really drew us in. Hundreds of artifacts in a small space, so plenty to look at and enjoy.

I learned a lot about Somali culture and history. A small museum but very interesting.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$11–15

Such a well curated space. We got there when they opened on a Saturday and got a private guided tour. I learned so much about Somalia and the culture. Definitely deserving of their Best Small Museum award.

Great museum to learn something new and welcoming Somali people
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Small but very interesting and fun. Offer guided tours. It’s not clear if there is an admission fee when you walk in, but there is I think it was like $10. They asked for it as I was leaving.

I had old memories brought to life. I would give 5 stars if the tour was made by Somali person who knows the history than American person and trust she did a good job.

We went on a whim and had such a wonderful time! We learned so much and our tour guide was super helpful! We also got great Somali food dinner recommendations.

Absolutely worth the visit! Galleries are thoughtfully arranged, and our guide was knowledgeable and eager to share her knowledge - we learned so much!

What a wonderful museum experience--like taking a carefully prepared college course, with an amazing professor. Extremely informative and enjoyable.

I have been to the Somali Museum many times. It is a great place to spend your day learning Somali culture without traveling to Somalia. Thank you!

Great experience! We learned so much, mostly from the wonderful private tour included in the price of admission.

Beautiful place . Keep up the good work . Proud of somali culture …

I had a great tour. best ever museum experience I ever had well done The Somali Museum of MN.

A very educational place. Well organized. The staff are extremely polite and knowledgeable.

Love Museums that share other cultures life. It helps us to understand each other better.

Very unique...it's amazing how it holds such valuable pieces of information and history.

This was a great experience with a lot of good information.

Great place, can't wait to go back. They are on the rise!

Great place. Somali history right here in Minneapolis.

Parking is a challenge. Very interesting museum.

Many options plus the guy's practically family

The staff is wonderful. Must take the tour!

Very small but very good guided tour

Super informative museum. Well done

Fabolous and Funtastic experience.

My kids loved the "Aqal Somali"

Nice people , great heritage

The stench was unbearable.

I'm sure it's 5 stars!

I love my culture

Woow it is good

Worth visiting

Nice