AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE | Minnesota’s ONLY Castle!
If you’re resolved to find a place to spend time in 2023 that offers camaraderie, food, friends and new experiences, here’s a starting point!
The American Swedish Institute museum and cultural center announces a winter-to-spring schedule of programs for every age and interest in language, cooking, and crafts; fun happenings in the cozy Turnblad mansion, including a series youth events, as well as can’t-miss musical events. We have something for everyone!
Throughout the year, you can explore ASI’s exhibitions and the Turnblad Mansion during public and group tours led by ASI educators. With exclusive access to ASI content experts, these tours offer an up-close and unique experience for both the public and scheduled groups. Group tours are ideal for 10-30 people, each $20 ticket includes museum admission. Unique meal and refreshment options are available (for an additional cost) such as cookies, cocktails, or a full Swedish smörgåsbord.
Public Tours
-Overview: 1-hour public tours cover the history of the Turnblad Mansion. Best option for individuals or small groups that want to learn about the Turnblad Mansion during their visit to ASI.
-Date/Time: Wed-Sun when ASI is open (except for festival days). January, 2:30p.m.; February, 1:30p.m.
-Cost: Included with museum admission
-Capacity: 15
-How to Register: Register online ahead of time to guarantee a spot. If space is available, you can also do walk-in registration at the front desk that day.
Group Tours (Private):
-Overview: Perfect for those that want an exclusive 1-hour tour of the Turnblad Mansion or current exhibition. The group tours provide an opportunity to become an experience, which can include a visit to ASI’s museum gift shop and award-winning restaurant, FIKA Café. Registration with ASI’s catering staff is required.
-Date/Time: Can be booked between 10am-3pm (tour must be done by 4pm) on Tues, Wed, Fri, and Sat. On Thursdays, group tours can be booked between 10am-6pm.
-Cost: $20/person (plus any catering costs)
-Capacity: 50-60. If they have more, contact Andrea Justus to discuss options. Minimum group size is 10.
-How to Register: Fill out the form on the ASI website and someone from Slate & Stone’s catering will be in touch.
Important Notes for Registration:
-If a tour is booked for a Tuesday, the gift shop will not be open. The ASI gift shop is only open during ASI’s regular hours of operation.
-When booking, please specify whether it’s for a tour of the historic Turnblad Mansion and/or the current exhibition.
-Payment: Groups need to pay through catering staff either ahead of time or afterwards – this depends on each reservation. Andrea and Shelby need the updated number count a week beforehand and groups can’t pay at the desk.
-The group will need to pay in one lump sum – the front desk cannot take individual payments for group tours.
Cocktail Tours:
-Overview: Cocktail tours is a public ASI program led by ASI staff or special guests. Each tour follows a different theme and information can be found in the ASI Catalog and on ASI’s website. Usually, the cocktail tours are on either Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, but times may vary. The program includes a themed cocktail and appetizer, the tour, and another cocktail with dessert.
-Date/Time: Varies. See the program catalog or the ASI website for dates, times, and themes.
-Cost: $55 ($50 member)
-Capacity: 20-40, depending on the tour
-How to Register: Register online or by calling the front desk at 612-871-4907
-Notes: Participants must be 21+. If someone needs a non-alcoholic beverage, we can accommodate them. ASI reserves the right to refuse someone entry if they arrive already intoxicated.
• Cocktail Tours Themed cocktails and small bites included.
-Valentine’s Day Cocktail Tour Tues. Feb. 14, 5:30- 7 pm. $55 ($50 ASI member)
-Gal-entine’s Day Cocktail Tour Wed. Feb. 15, 5:30- 7 pm. $55 ($50 ASI member)
-Self-entine’s Cocktail Tour Tues. Feb. 22, 5:30- 7 pm. $55 ($50 ASI member)
-Women of ASI Cocktail Tour Wed. March 1, 5:30- 7 pm. $55 ($50 ASI member)
*Celebrate Women’s History Month with a special tour highlighting stories of the women of ASI, including Christina and Lillian Turnblad.
-Vaffeldagen (Waffle Day) Cocktail Tour Tues. March 21, 5:30 – 7 pm. $55 ($50 ASI member). Celebrate Swedish Vaffeldagen (Waffle Day) with a tour of the Turnblad Mansion and stories of Swedish food traditions. Go home with a recipe for your own waffle celebration.
-Disinformation Cocktail Tour Saturday April 1, 9– 10:30 am. $55 ($50 ASI member)
*Ever wonder what myths surround the Turnblad Mansion? Come find out on this tour, where the stories you hear just might be April Fool’s myths. Themed, brunch appropriate, cocktails and small bites included.
-Sustainability Cocktail Tour Tuesday April 18, 5:30- 7 pm. $55 ($50 ASI member)
*Did you know ASI was the first MN museum with LEED Gold certification?! Explore green features of the Nelson Cultural Center and Swedish traditions that have been sustainable for centuries.
ASI is located at 2600 Park Avenue in Minneapolis. Open 10 am to 8 pm on Thursdays, and 10 am to 4 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. General admission is free for ASI members and children five and under. $6 for ages 6 to 18 and students of all ages. $12 for adults. $8 for seniors age 62 and over. Walk-up museum admission is available, or register in advance.
The American Swedish Institute (ASI), designated to the National Register for Historic Places, is a historic castle-like mansion, museum and cultural center, and a gathering place for all people to explore diverse experiences of migration, identity, belonging, and the environment through arts and culture, informed by enduring links to Sweden. ASI, which The Wall Street Journal calls “[a] model of how a small institution can draw visitors through exciting programming,” is located at 2600 Park Avenue in Minneapolis. For more, visit asimn.org.
