The Bakken Museum holds Earl E. Bakken's collection of scientific instruments and books. Bakken is the co-founder of global medical technology company Medtronic, which started life in Minneapolis.
What's at the Bakken Museum?
Inside the museum's attractive 1920s Tudor-revival mansion building are many interactive exhibits demonstrating electrical and magnetic phenomena.Scientific instruments, historical medical devices, some of which are literally shocking, and exhibits demonstrate ancient and modern applications of electromagnetism in medicine, technology, and life sciences.
Visitors can take a trip to Victor Frankenstein's laboratory, and an electric aquarium, home to electric fish. The fish are usually asleep - electric fish are mostly nocturnal - but all the other exhibits are very interesting.
Surrounding the mansion are beautiful medicinal gardens, open seasonally. The English-style gardens are full of native Minnesotan plants, many used by Native Americans.
Visiting the Bakken Museum
Adults and older children will find the Bakken Museum most interesting.The Bakken Museum is one block away from the west shore of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.
3537 South Zenith Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55416-4623
Telephone 612-926-3878
Parking: Park in the small lot behind the museum, and there is free parking on the streets around the museum.
Admission: There is an admission charge for the museum. The Bakken Museum is often included as one of the Museum Adventure Pass destinations, where public library members can receive free admission to local museums and attractions.
