Driving a large boat down any river is no easy task. Try it by yourself or with a co-captain as you look out on the giant, winding Mississippi River below.
And the best part is—it’s right outside our doors!
The Mississippi River (Mníšošethąka or Wakpá Tháŋka in Dakota, Misi-ziibi in Ojibwe) snakes through St. Paul on its 2,340 mile journey south to the Gulf of Mexico.
This great river starts right here in Minnesota at Lake Itasca, and you can explore its little beginnings, ancient origins, and Minnesota’s changing environments and weather patterns in the Mississippi River Gallery.
Within this gallery, you’ll be able to alter Minnesota’s weather in hands-on experiments, try your hand at navigating a barge, see a real towboat outside on a balcony, be a part of natural history by trading objects at the Collectors’ Corner, and examine the waterway ecosystems we all share.
Ahoy, Mississippi matey!
Get fit to lift fish
Can you find enough strength to reel in a heavy lake sturgeon? Find out if you’re fit enough to lift these massive fish!
No need to take a trip up north
Lake Itasca is right here! Transport yourself to the land of loons, muskies, and towering pines near the source of the Mississippi through intricate landscape dioramas and an original state park signpost.
