Built within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, a National Historic Landmark, the award-winning Mill City Museum chronicles the flour milling industry that fueled the growth of Minneapolis.

During the holidays, Mill City Museum is a popular destination for people with out of town guests. Visitors can explore the museum's eight-story Flour Tower ride, Water Lab, Baking Lab and other hands-on exhibits, or stop in for special programs. In addition, the store offers a wide selection of kitchen items, including the largest collection of cookbooks by Minnesota authors, and other items including toys and jewelry.

December special programs include:

• Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest Winners
  Date: Dec. 6, 2014
  Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
  Fee: Included with admission of $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for MNHS members.
  
  
  Get inspired for holiday baking when the finalists in the Star Tribune’s annual Taste Holiday Cookie Contest bake their winning recipes in the Mill City Museum Baking Lab. Meet the finalists as they bake their award-winning cookies, learn about the history of the recipes, why the recipes are so good and get baking tips for the holiday season. Visitors will also be able to sample each of the winning cookies. Look for the winner and runners-up announced in the Star Tribune's early December Taste section.
  
  
• An "Eventually" Christmas: Holidays at the Mill
  Dates: Dec. 18, 19 and 20, 2014
  Time: 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Saturday
  Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 for children ages 6-17 and MNHS members; $2 off adult admission with Fringe Festival button.
  Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online.
  
  During the holidays, actors take over the eight-story Flour Tower ride for the popular program "An Eventually Christmas: Holidays at the Mill." This unique play is based on real stories from the pages of the Washburn Crosby Company's employee newspaper. Scenes unfold on different floors. Visitors will experience the rocky romance of Celia and Otto; meet the marketing mastermind Benjamin S. Bull; see the awesome sweeping power of Bill Smith; and learn the secret origin of the marketing slogan, "Eventually-Why Not Now?" Recommended for children age 8 and older. Ticket includes a voucher for museum admission and post-performance refreshments. The museum store will be open for holiday shopping.
  
  
• Washburn A Mill Tour
  Dates: Dec. 13 and 27
  Time: 1 p.m.
  Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Tour includes museum admission.
  Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online.
  
  Take an in-depth look at the historic Washburn A Mill complex and the award-winning Mill City Museum building. A museum interpreter will guide visitors into the building’s many nooks and crannies, highlighting the lives of the men and women who worked there, how the building functioned during its peak flour milling years and the many changes to the building over time.

About Mill City Museum

Mill City Museum is located at 704 S. Second St. in Minneapolis. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The site is also open Mondays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in July and August. For more information, call 612-341-7555 or visit www.millcitymuseum.org.

The Society’s calendar of events is posted online at www.mnhs.org/calendar. The website also has information about all of the Society’s programs, museums and historic sites.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partners: Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism.