GeneralInformation
Located in downtown St. Paul, just off the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Mississippi River Visitor Center serves as a gateway to adventure along the Mighty Mississippi. Operated by the National Park Service and staffed with park rangers, the Visitor Center is free and open to the public.
Visitors may be surprised to discover recreational resources right in their own backyard -- from canoe trips to riverboat excursions, from birding to biking to hiking. Planning a trip? The wide variety of parks, historic sites, wildlife refuges, and other related destinations within a day's drive of the Twin Cities are featured. Park rangers can assist with travel information on any of the units within the National Park System.
Hours and Contact Information: The Mississippi River Visitor Center is usually open seven days a week. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday hours are from 9:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. For additional information, please call the visitor center at (651) 293-0200.
Did You Know?
The Mississippi River is approximately three feet deep at its headwaters at Lake Itasca and has an average surface speed of 1.2 miles per hour.