Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
18 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
20 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
22 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
23 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Minnesota Minneapolis The Soap Factory
The Soap Factory is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

The Soap Factory

An old soap company building now houses one of Minneapolis’s oldest independent non-profit art galleries.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Added By
Lizzie Boyle
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Soap Factory  
Soap Factory  
Soap Factory  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This sprawling art mecca takes its name from the building's former tenant, the National Purity Soap Company, which called the space home from 1920 to the mid-80s.

Now, it's one of the city's oldest - and coolest -  independent non-profit art galleries. The raw wood-and-beam galleries are strung together through a labyrinthine maze, replete with mysterious nooks and crannies, old factory equipment peep holes, 25 foot high ceilings, and borderline dangerous floor boards.

What better to complement such historic industrial charm than with some of the most daring and subversive installation-based art exhibits in the state? From massive light sculptures to quirky video installations to mazes made of inflated garbage bags to 24 hour performance art parties and haunted basement tours, the Soap Factory is not only a beautiful, historic piece of Minneapolis architecture, but it's also one of the most progressive galleries in town.

Update as of May 2019: The Soap Factory is closed while it reorganizes its finances. 

Update as of October 2019: The Soap Factory is planning to close its doors for good December 31, 2019.

Related Tags

Shops

Community Contributors

Added By

lizzieboyle

Edited By

kellympls, hannahcreate

  • kellympls
  • hannahcreate

Published

July 26, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.citypages.com/arts/after-4-years-of-uncertainty-the-soap-factory-is-officially-closing/561434941
The Soap Factory
514 Second St. SE
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414
United States
44.983367, -93.24976
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Pillsbury A-Mill

Minneapolis, Minnesota

miles away

Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory

Minneapolis, Minnesota

miles away

The Stone Arch Bridge

Minneapolis, Minnesota

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Minneapolis

Minneapolis

Minnesota

Places 61
Stories 17

Nearby Places

Pillsbury A-Mill

Minneapolis, Minnesota

miles away

Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory

Minneapolis, Minnesota

miles away

The Stone Arch Bridge

Minneapolis, Minnesota

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Minneapolis

Minneapolis

Minnesota

Places 61
Stories 17

Related Places

  • Seattle, Washington

    Golden Age Collectables

    Founded in 1961, this comic shop is said to be the oldest in the world.

  •  The front of Asian Garden Mall.

    Westminster, California

    Asian Garden Mall

    The heart of Little Saigon in Orange County is also the first and largest Vietnamese shopping center in the U.S.

  • Chiang Mai, Thailand

    John Gallery The Tree House

    A local Thai artist started building this gallery in 1980.

  • Even Anthony Bourdain picked up a knife here.

    Hong Kong

    Chan Chi Kee Cutlery Co.

    Even Michelin-starred chefs are said to get their cleavers at this century-old shop.

  • Huntington, West Virginia

    Heritage Farm Museum & Village

    Step back in time to explore 19th-century Appalachian life, from blacksmiths to Model Ts.

  • Examples of Aztec tools for making chocolate.

    Québec City, Québec

    Musée du Chocolat

    A chocolatier with a quaint museum showcasing the history of chocolate.

  • Memphis, Tennessee

    Memphis Pyramid

    The 10th-tallest pyramid in the world, this former sports arena is now home to a massive Bass Pro Shops store.

  • St. Charles, Illinois

    Ghoulish Mortals

    This horror movie and monster shop is like if a haunted house was a retail store.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.