Documenting an Effective Medical Device Quality Management System

Cathedral of St. Paul

Built in 1915 on the highest point in the city, this cathedral is one of the largest in the country. A replica of St. Peter's in Rome, the building boasts a newly restored 175-foot-high copper dome, a massive rose window, and granite-and-travertine construction.

Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum

Set on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, the Weisman Art Museum is part of the University of Minnesota campus. You won't miss the trademark Frank Gehry-designed building; its fluid form defies conventional architectural lines, and its metallic finish gleams in the sunlight. The permanent collection is especially strong in American modernist paintings, ceramics, Mimbres pottery, and Korean furniture.

Historic Fort Snelling

This living history museum commemorates the establishment of a fort here in the wilderness in 1819 by Col. Josiah Snelling and his troops, who opened the area for homesteaders. Costumed guides are the focus of a living history reenactment during the summer months, re-creating the activities of everyday army life during the 1820s.

Mill City Museum

Minneapolis's Mill City Museum recounts the history of the flour industry that earned the city the nickname "Mill City" in the late 19th century. Set in the ruins of what was once the world's largest flour mill the museum re-creates old milling techniques with period equipment railroad cars and interactive exhibits. Visitors also learn the impact of the nation's first high-quality finely milled flour on the gastronomy of the Twin Cities and the country.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

More than 5,000 years and 80,000 pieces of fine and decorative arts comprise the permanent collection at the MIA, including a 2,000-year-old mummy, European masters (Rembrandt, Titian, and Monet, among others), architectural and decorative arts, and a comprehensive photography exhibit. If you're short on time, ask for the "Highlights" brochure to make sure you don't miss the museum's best.

Minnesota History Center

An impressive array of artifacts is housed in this three-story museum, including photographs, music, and videos, all of it celebrating Minnesota history. Kids enjoy sitting in the re-created basement of a Minnesota farmhouse while a simulated tornado passes overhead. Adults enjoy listening to recordings of Minnesota musicians, including Bob Dylan, Steven Greenberg, and Prince.

Minnesota Museum of American Art

Temporary exhibits are the rule at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, which overlooks the Mississippi River. Expect edgy, contemporary installation pieces, as well as paintings, fiber art, ceramics, works on paper, and works created from found objects.

Minnesota Zoo

"Russia's Grizzly Coast" became the Minnesota Zoo's newest exhibit in 2008 bison pumas and wolverines -- as well as exotic mainstays like tigers camels dolphins and monkeys. The Minnesota Zoo also includes an IMAX theater and a monorail for easy navigation of the grounds.

Mississippi River Visitor Center

Located inside the entrance to the Science Museum of Minnesota , the Mississippi River Visitor Center is operated by the National Park Service and designed to educate visitors about the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area. Park rangers can assist travelers with planning outdoor excursions, including canoe and riverboat trips, hiking, biking, and birding. If you're at all outdoorsy, it's worth a stop.

Science Museum of Minnesota

Hands-on exhibits introduce visitors to natural history, science, and technology in this massive museum. Highlights include the Human Body Gallery, navigating a virtual towboat down the Mississippi River, and a collection of fossils and prehistoric specimens. In warm months check out EarthScapes Mini Golf, a new activity designed to teach earth surface dynamics. There's also an Omnitheater.

University of Minnesota

One of the Midwest's oldest (1851) and most important universities, with 50,000 students on the Twin Cities campus, the UMN offers three significant museums -- the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History, the University Art Gallery, and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum .The 4,800-seat Northrop Auditorium has been a home for distinguished performances since 1929, and the University Theatre has four separate stages.

Walker Art Center/Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Walker Art Center is as well known for its striking architectural features as for the edgy, contemporary art inside: paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and multimedia installations. A fine-dining restaurant and cafe, both by Wolfgang Puck, and gift shop are also new. Across the street is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the largest urban sculpture garden in the country. A variety of 20th-century sculpture shares space with horticultural plantings, including the famous "Spoonbridge and Cherry" sculpture.