The Bakken Museum — Attraction in Minneapolis

This is a great museum to visit during Covid because it’s open!! And it’s only $5 😊 You just have to purchase your tickets ahead of time and show up for your timed entry.

I’ve never been here before Covid but it seemed like all the regular exhibits were open besides the part that’s under construction. Despite the construction, there’s enough to do here for about 1-2 hours. It’s not a huge museum, but it’s kind of nice because you can see it all in one visit and not be overwhelmed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Frankenstein exhibit - it was very well done albeit a little scary for children. My husband and I spent most of our time there. The medicinal gardens are also a little oasis amidst the busyness of Lake Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska.

During our visit, we felt we saw everything there was to see so we probably wouldn’t go back, except perhaps to see the new exhibits once they’re complete. The staff was very friendly and I felt the safety measures they’re taking for Covid were thorough.

Overall, we had a great time and enjoyed just getting out! Go out and support this local museum and enjoy an...

This was started by one of the founders of Medtronic. It does not take much time to go through the place especially in the winter when the garden is closed (half hour to an hour). It is more for kids but enough activities for adults. There is a lot of reading on the first floor.There was a lot about electronic device and some interactive devices that were neat including guiding a ball with your alpha waves. There is an exhibit about Frankenstein which is thought provoking but probably boring to the kids. There is an activity section where children and adults can build things with paper. You may miss it but there is on the wall to the top floor a wall exhibit about plants and medicines (which is what the garden is about). There is a larger activity that changes. The one for the month I went there was on statistics, not something I was interested in. The top floor were rooms left as they were when it had occupants with a library on Benjamin Franklin and some of his...

The Bakken Museum is a treasured venue that sits on a hill overlooking Bde Maka Ska (formerly known as Lake Calhoun). The former West Winds mansion with a slate roof and Gothic architecture was purchased by engineer and inventor Earl Bakken who invented the pacemaker and was a co-founder of Medtronic. The museum appeals to all ages and has fun and educational interactive displays. A favorite display is the Frankenstein Room. There is also a collection of pacemakers from the earliest to the most recent technology. Millions of heart patients around the world have benefitted from pacemakers. My uncle was one of the first recipients; my dad, age 92, has a longer life expectancy because of receiving a pacemaker. The museum doubles as a venue for social events (weddings, anniversaries, company parties, etc). Amenities abound: beautiful gardens with medicinal plants; a koi pond; huge terrace; a leafy gazebo; interior spaces suited for dining and dancing; a view...