Guthrie Theater.

Standing on the Mississippi riverfront in the historic Mill District, the Guthrie Theater is a defining Minneapolis arts institution that is as much an architectural destination as a performance venue. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the striking midnight-blue complex features three distinct stages—the Wurtele Thrust, the McGuire Proscenium, and the intimate Dowling Studio—allowing the company to present everything from large-scale Shakespearean classics to experimental new works. Visitors don’t need a show ticket to appreciate the building; the public is welcome to explore its spaces, including the "Endless Bridge," a dramatic 178-foot cantilevered platform that juts out over the parkway to offer panoramic views of the river and the stone ruins of the city's old mills.