A Beloved Minnesota Landmark is Now the Best Free Attraction

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is packed with free museums, parks, and iconic landmarks, but only one of them has been crowned the best in the entire state.

The winning attraction might not be the one you’d expect, and it’s about to give your next road trip a whole new destination. Plus, hint: It's not in the Twin Cities, either. In fact, this classic Minnesota landmark is only around 40 minutes from Minnesota's Med City of Rochester.

Exploring the Best Free Tourist Attractions in Minnesota

There is no shortage of incredible attractions to see in Minnesota. In fact, Explore Minnesota lists 20 free attractions, including gardens, trails, museums, and monuments. Not to be outdone, WhichMuseum notes that there are 75 free attractions in Minnesota, such as the Minnesota State Capitol, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Como Park Zoo. ​

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But none of those destinations has just been named the *best* free attraction in the North Star State.  That's the word, anyway, from this LoveExploring 'Best Free Attractions In Every State' survey. And, can you guess which attraction gets the nod here in the Bold North?

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Why the SPAM Museum in Austin is a Must-Visit Minnesota Landmark

If you said the SPAM Museum over in Austin, ding, ding, ding... we have a winner! That's right, the classic museum owned by Hormel and dedicated to preserving the history of the meat we love to eat here in Minnesota is the state's Best Free Attraction!

This classic spot is located about 40 miles southwest of Rochester and 100 miles south of the Twin Cities. If you take Interstate 35 south out of the metro area, the drive will take you about an hour and a half. The SPAM Museum first opened in 2001, but its origins trace back to an earlier Hormel Foods First Century Museum, which was established in 1991 to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary, Hormel Foods noted.

According to the LoveExploring survey:

The institution is a loud, proud celebration of the canned meat, which was invented back in the 1930s. You'll learn all about the history of SPAM, including its key role in the diets of troops during World War II, and pore over a huge store of SPAM memorabilia. Free guided tours are available over the weekend and upon request.

Fun Facts About Minnesota’s Favorite Canned Meat

I'm a little ashamed to admit I've never been to the SPAM Museum, even though I do love me some SPAM! ExploreMinnesota, the state's tourism website, has a few facts about Minnesota's favorite meat:

• Since opening in April 2016, the new SPAM Museum in downtown Austin has welcomed more than 224,000 visitors from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.
• 780 cans of SPAM travel around the museum on a conveyor belt, and it takes one can 18 minutes to make the full loop.
• The Austin production facility makes 350 cans per minute.
• SPAM comes in 15 flavors, including black pepper, garlic, hickory smoke, jalapeno, and chorizo, all available at the museum gift shop for $3 per can.

And while we're talking about food, keep scrolling to check out all the amazing Minnesota restaurants that have been featured on the Food Network!