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A Weeklong Celebration of Architecture, History & Design in the Twin Cities

May 2 - 10, 2026

City Stories is a weeklong, multi-location event that invites visitors and locals to explore the Twin Cities through the lens of architecture, history, and design. The event will feature exclusive home tours, walking tours, lectures, panels, and immersive experiences designed to highlight the unique built environment of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding communities.

Meet the Team

The Festival Calendar

Explore City Stories one day at a time.

The calendar is organized by date so you can easily see what’s happening throughout the festival and plan your perfect lineup of tours, talks, and experiences. Each event listing includes a link to reserve your spot or purchase tickets.

Sat - Sun, May 2-3

Real Homes. Real People. Real Ideas.

MSP Home Tour

11:00AM - 5:00PM daily

Step inside remodeled homes across the Twin Cities where neighbors share the stories behind the spaces they’ve transformed in this community celebration produced by the NARI MN.

Monday, May 4

Inside St. Paul City Hall

Deco + Democracy

10:15 - 11:15AM

Step inside the historic Saint Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse to discover a Depression-era Art Deco landmark filled with monumental spaces and the untold stories behind them.

A Hands-On Experence

The Moroni Studio

11:00AM - 1:30PM

Artists from Aldo Moroni’s studio lead a hands-on workshop where participants create a small artwork inspired by Moroni’s imaginative architectural sculptures and his belief that art is something everyone can build together.

Inside the Fed

Art Behind the Vault

12:30 - 1:30PM

Step inside the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to discover the unexpected art collection hidden within this iconic landmark.

Tuesday, May 5

Architecture at the University of Minnesota

Modern on the Mall

1:00 - 2:30PM

Join modernism expert Bobak Ha'Eri and Docomomo US/MN for a 90-minute walking tour exploring the striking modern buildings that reshaped the University of Minnesota campus.

Inside the City's Hidden Powerhouse

Under Pressure

Two Tours: 2:15PM + 4:00PM

Enter the city’s hidden powerhouse and experience the force that keeps downtown Minneapolis alive in every season, tracing its path from massive machinery through an underground network to the buildings it sustains across the city.

Wednesday, May 6

A Hands-On Experience

The Moroni Studio

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Artists from Aldo Moroni’s studio lead a hands-on workshop where participants create a small artwork inspired by his imaginative architectural sculptures and belief in art for all.

Inside the Fed

Art Behind the Vault

12:30 - 1:30 PM

Step inside the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to discover the unexpected art collection hidden within this iconic landmark.

Inside the City's Hidden Powerhouse

Under Presssure

Two Tours: 2:15PM + 4:00PM

Enter the city’s hidden powerhouse and experience the force that keeps downtown Minneapolis alive in every season, tracing its path from massive machinery through an underground network to the buildings it sustains across the city.

St. Paul in the Age of Jazz

Fitzgerald's City

4:30 - 6:30PM

Experience the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald on a guided walk through the St. Paul that inspired his stories, concluding with a 1920s-themed cocktail at the University Club of Saint Paul.

Thursday, May 7

Inside Saint Paul City Hall

Deco + Democracy

10:15 - 11:15AM

Step inside the historic Saint Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse to discover a Depression-era Art Deco landmark filled with monumental spaces and the untold stories behind them.

Stories of the Falls

Owámniyomni

10:30AM - 12:00PM

Discover the history and future of Owámniyomni on a 90-minute walking tour led by Owámniyomni Okhódayapi staff.

TC Tours Cover Image.jpg

Target Center Tour + Shoot Around

Tunnel to Tip-Off

1:30-3:00PM

Go behind the scenes at Target Center, home of the Lynx and Timberwolves, with a guided arena tour followed by a rare chance to step onto the court and take your shot.

Architecture after Hours

Board + Batten

5:00 - 7:45PM

Start the evening with a mix-and-mingle before a talk and Q&A with architect Richard Hess at the beautifully restored Hill Library, now known as Avalon Theater.

Friday, May 8

Inside WCCO Radio

Behind the Mic

Two Tours: 9:00 AM + 10:30AM

Go behind the scenes at WCCO Radio for a tour of the studio followed by a meet-and-greet with radio personalities and fellow fans of Minnesota’s legendary station.

Wrecking Ball 2025-(A7Z03918).jpg

Inside Landmark Center

Justice + Preservation

TBD

Tour the grand halls and courtrooms of Landmark Center and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at spaces that tell the story of this iconic St. Paul landmark.

The Mississippi as Architecture

Currents of Change

6:00 - 9:00PM

Cruise the Mississippi at sunset with appetizers, cocktails, and a historian’s talk exploring how human ingenuity reshaped the river to power and connect Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Saturday, May 9

Explore the City Inside

Doors Open Minneapolis

10:00AM - 5:00PM

Open the doors to dozens of Minneapolis buildings—many rarely open to the public—to explore the architecture, history, and stories that shape the city.

Alt by fire - Michaela Schmidt.jpg

The Story Behind Utepils Brewing

Powered by the Creek

Hourly Tours: 10:00AM - 4:00PM

From cereal to spring water to craft beer, explore 150 years of reinvention along Bassett Creek on Utepils Brewing’s first-ever public tour—drink included.

The Yard Doors Open Option 6.avif

Sauna, Community, and the Urban Hearth

The Yard

Hourly Tours: 10:00AM - 4:00PM

Join a one-hour guided sauna session in South Minneapolis’s urban sanctuary, where steam, story, and shared experience bring community together.

Stories of the Falls

Owámniyomni

10:30AM - 12:00PM

Discover the history and future of Owámniyomni on a 90-minute walking tour led by Owámniyomni Okhódayapi staff.

TC Tours Cover Image.jpg

Target Center Tour + Shoot Around

Tunnel to Tip-Off

3:00 - 4:30PM

Go behind the scenes at Target Center, home of the Lynx and Timberwolves, with a guided arena tour followed by a rare chance to step onto the court and take your shot.

Modernism + the Minneapolis Skyline

The Luminary Society

5:30 - 9:00PM

Enjoy an evening inside the Northwestern National Life Building featuring rare original drawings, tours into rarely seen spaces, with an optional Skyline Tour offering a rooftop toast.

Sunday, May 10

Explore the City Inside

Doors Open Minneapolis

10:00AM - 5:00PM

Open the doors to dozens of Minneapolis buildings—many rarely open to the public—to explore the architecture, history, and stories that shape the city.

Behind the Salvage

Architectural Antiques

Hourly Tours: 10:00am - 4:00PM

Tour a treasure-filled warehouse where pieces of the past—from stained glass to vintage fixtures—are waiting to be rediscovered and reimagined.

The Yard Doors Open Option 6.avif

Sauna, Community, and the Urban Hearth

The Yard

Hourly Tours: 10:00am - 4:00PM

Join a one-hour guided sauna session in South Minneapolis’s urban sanctuary, where steam, story, and shared experience bring community together.

Alt by fire - Michaela Schmidt.jpg

The Story behind Utepils Brewing

Powered by the Creek

Hourly Tours: 11:00am - 4:00PM

From cereal to spring water to craft beer, explore 150 years of reinvention along Bassett Creek on Utepils Brewing’s first-ever public tour—drink included.

Pryes Building.JPG

City Stories Meet Up

After the Stories

5:00 - 7:00PM

Join fellow volunteers, participants, and new friends at Pryes Brewing Company for a relaxed end-of-week gathering to celebrate the stories, spaces, and people that made City Stories possible.

Sponsor City Stories

City Stories brings people and place together through experiences that reveal the Twin Cities in new ways. The event engages curious locals, passionate design and history enthusiasts, and visitors seeking deeper connections to the region.

WHO IS
CITY STORIES FOR?

Locals and visitors interested in:

Architecture & Preservation – Design professionals, preservationists, real estate enthusiasts

Home & Design – Homeowners, renovators, and DIYers

History & Heritage Tourism – Travelers seeking cultural experiences

Tourists & Shoppers – Visitors drawn by Mall of America & regional attractions

www.narimn.org/

www.rethos.org

© 2025 City Stories • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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