FAQs

Follow Doors Open Minneapolis on:

Facebook: Doors Open Minneapolis

Instagram: @doorsopenmpls

X: @doorsopenmpls

Use #dompls when sharing your Doors Open adventures on social media!

1. Follow @doorsopenminneapolis on Instagram

2. Attend Doors Open Minneapolis May 17 – 18

3. Take an interior or exterior photo of a participating venue (No photos with people in them!)

4. Post your photo to Instagram by midnight May 25 using the hashtag #dompls

Doors Open Minneapolis is happening Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18, 2025 10:00 am – 5:00 pm both days. This event takes place at 75 different venues across the city.

See the map and list of participating venues on the Doors Open Venues webpage.

The average person visits around 4 venues per day. But as far as we know, the record number of venues visited in one weekend is 22! Visit however many feels right to you. Pay special attention to which venues are open which days – some venues are only open on Saturday or Sunday. Each venue states which days they are open on the website and in the guide.

Expect to spend approximately 15 – 25 minutes at each venue. Some venue experiences may take longer, and we try to note that under a venue’s description so that visitors can plan ahead.

Start anywhere! You can peruse our venue list and map to plan your route beforehand, or fly by the seat of your pants and pick a venue at random. There is no specific order you need to follow – it's your adventure!

Thanks to our friends at Metro Transit, all bus and train rides are FREE Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18 between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. You will need to download a free transit pass to avoid transit fees. A link to download your free pass will be provided soon.

The City of Minneapolis will offer free and reduced cost parking ramps across the city. Check the website and digital map for updates.

Many Doors Open attendees also bike from venue to venue! Explore Minneapolis bike routes HERE.

There are a few current and former residences participating in Doors Open! They include:

• Ard Godfrey House

• Groveland Gallery

• Milwaukee Avenue Historic District (exterior only)

• Purcell-Cutts House

• Theodore Wirth Home

Many participating venues have public restrooms available during the weekend. Check under each venue listing on the Venues webpage and in the printed guide to see which venues have public restrooms available.

Some venues are ADA compliant, and some are not. Check under each venue listing on the Venues webpage and in the printed guide to see which venues are:

“Fully accessible” - wheelchair accessible spaces, entrances, and restrooms

“Partially accessible” - not 100% wheelchair accessible, often require stairs

“Not accessible” - not recommended for visitors with mobility constraints

Please call 651-293-9047 before May 17 with questions regarding the accessibility features of specific venues.

Ensuring that Doors Open is a welcoming event to all is a huge priority. For now, our programming and services are only offered in English, but we hope to expand our offerings beyond English soon!

Believe it or not, the first documented Doors Open event occurred in Paris in the 1980s. Milwaukee, Chicago, Buffalo, Omaha, Boston, and several other cities all host similar Doors Open events, though they are all operated by different organizations.

The first Doors Open Minneapolis happened in May of 2019. At that time, it was its own nonprofit run by Founder and Executive Director Scott Mayer. After a very successful inaugural event, it went on hiatus due to the global pandemic. In Fall of 2022, Rethos acquired the event and produced it for the first time in May of 2023 and has producing it ever since!

There are multiple ways to support Doors Open!

• Volunteer – Doors Open is a huge production, and we can’t do it without our amazing volunteers! We are seeking the help of more than 500 volunteers during Doors Open weekend, May 17 and 18. Volunteers get a t-shirt and a VIP pass that lets them skip the lines at popular venues! Learn more and sign up here!

• Donate – Doors Open is a free event operated by Rethos, a 501c3 charitable organization. This event is almost entirely sponsor- and crowd-funded. Every dollar helps us continue to provide this citywide event to the public! Learn more and donate here.

• Attend – Get out and explore our city during Doors Open weekend! Take advantage of free public transit, local restaurant and retailer discounts, enter the photo contest, and more!

Pro-Tip! You can purchase a Doors Open 2025 t-shirt for $50 at the Meeting Minneapolis Visitor Center at 505 Nicollet Mall, Suite 100. Not only will you get to skip the line at venues when you are wearing the t-shirt, but proceeds go to support the 501c3 charitable organization, Rethos, that produces Doors Open!

Volunteer during Doors Open weekend, May 17 and/or 18! Volunteers get a t-shirt which also lets them skip the lines at popular venues. Learn more and sign up here!

During the event you will also be able to purchase a stylish Doors Open Minneapolis 2025 t-shirt for $50 at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center at 505 Nicollet Mall, Suite 100.

Perhaps our most-asked question! Rethos, the charitable organization that produces Doors Open, is working on some new ideas around Doors Open!

If you purchase a ticket to The Luminary Society on May 17 at the top of the IDS Center, you will get a sneak peek at what will be happening with Doors Open Minneapolis in 2026.

Can’t wait until 2026? September 27, 2025 will be our inaugural Doors Open Duluth! A proof-of-concept event for one day to demonstrate to Duluthians how cool this event is!

The following venues offer ticketed tours where you must pre-register to attend:

Architectural Antiques

Cancer & Cardiovascular Research Building Lab Tours – Partake in games and other activities on site without pre-registering, but pre-register if you’d like to tour their laboratories.

Hennepin Healthcare Teddy Bear Clinic – Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is appreciated.

Xcel Energy Hydroelectric Plant