Best Free Sculpture Gardens in MN: Discover Franconia in 2025

There are only a few free Sculpture Gardens in Minnesota and they are not all created equal. Some claim to be free but they have hidden costs associated with them, like parking. But the Franconia Sculpture Park near Taylors Falls MN is truly one of the only free ones around. It has an ever-changing array of different artwork being added each year thanks to its amazing artists. But one thing is for sure, this one has stuff even your kids will love.

The History of Franconia Sculpture Park

The Franconia Sculpture Park was created over 25 years ago by a series of artists. It covers 43 acres in the St. Croix River Valley. Each year artists stay on site to create new large-scale sculptures. Inside the artist’s studio, you can stop in and say “Hi” and see what they are working on.

What to do at Franconia Sculpture Park

As one of the only free sculpture parks in Minnesota, this place has attracted over 150,000 visitors a year. The sculpture garden style is nothing like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. It has a mix of different materials that have been repurposed. Their size ranges from small to larger than life. Even with as many visitors as they get, with its size, you never encounter crowds. Some of my favorite pieces were:

Sapling by Kevin Dartt

Mixing a tree with a street lamp brings a connection between both modern technology and the world. What I loved were the different angles. This piece could be transported anywhere because it was solar-powered. I would love something like this in my own backyard. The artist, Kevin Dartt, likes to focus on how advanced technologies have affected people and our environment.

Playstation by Bridget Beck

This piece was designed with kids in mind. But it wasn’t just kids that loved it, adults ventured up to try it out. This was the first example of interactive exhibits at the park. While most installations at other places have a look-but-don’t-touch rule, this encouraged guests to be a part of the exhibit. Art should be something that everyone can play with.

The park has so many more exhibits to explore through its winding pathways. It was hard to pick my top three. Most of the sculptures took older things and recycled them into something fun and quirky. All the seriousness is left for the other sculpture parks.

Northern Oracle: We Will Tear the Roof off the Mother by Heather Hart

This piece was fun because both of my kids looked at it and couldn’t figure out what happened. It felt like what might have happened to Dorothy’s farmhouse after a tornado ripped through Kansas. The kids found out it was just a roof. But it was still fun.

The park has so many more exhibits to explore through its winding pathways. It was hard to pick my top three. Most of the sculptures took older things and recycled them into something fun and quirky. All the seriousness is left for the other sculpture parks.

Other Things to Know

Cost

The Franconia Sculpture Park is always free. They accept donations at the gate to help fund the artwork. They also have golf carts to help you get around the park, for a recommended donation of $10. It’s not required. Carts are first come, first served. The park is open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.

Getting there

The Franconia Sculpture Park is hard to miss, due to the size of the sculptures. It is at the intersection of Highway 8 and Highway 95, 8 miles west of Taylors Falls. Parking is free in the lot.

Tips for your visit

• For a more interactive time, take one of their walking tours. They run April through November, Monday through Friday, and cost $4 per person. Tours are led by artists.
• Dress for the weather. The entire park is outdoors and open rain or shine.
• Bring water if it’s hot. There are a few shaded areas.
• Don’t leave your dogs in the car. They are welcome in the park; please clean up after them.
• Check their website for children’s art workshops. Kids can build their own creations.

Other things to do near Franconia Sculpture Park

Other attractions to visit

The Franconia Sculpture Park is between Taylors Falls and Chisago City. My favorite stop is Winehaven Winery in Chisago City. Stop on the way in or out of town. Try their famous Honey Wine. In summer, chill on the patio and enjoy vineyard and lake views.

Head into Taylors Falls and explore Interstate Park. They have great hiking trails and you can watch rock climbers in action. It’s a low-cost activity. If you want to spend a little more, take a ride down the St. Croix River Valley with Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours.

For more ideas in the area, check out How to Spend a Weekend in Taylors Falls.

Where to eat nearby

With kids, my favorite place is the Drive-In. They specialize in root beer floats, milkshakes, and burgers. It’s a 50s-style car hop.

For finer dining, drive into Osceola and visit Mango’s Mainstreet Eatery. Prices are reasonable and the food is excellent with an island feel.

Where to stay

If you’re staying overnight, the Holiday Inn just over the border in Wisconsin has great accommodations. You can also camp at Interstate State Park or Wildwood RV Park. Interstate Park fills fast on weekends, so reserve early.

If you only have an hour

If you only have an hour to explore the Franconia Sculpture Park, grab a self-guided map from the information booth. It highlights the best pieces to check out. If you can, drop in a few dollars to support the park and keep it going.