Children's Museums

The Bakken Museum

Name: The Bakken Museum
Address: 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416, Minneapolis, MN, US
Telephone: (612) 926-3878
Rating: 4.7

★★★★☆ 4.7 (599 reviews)

📍 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416

📞 (612) 926-3878

🌐 thebakken.org

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

🕐 Hours

Monday	Closed
Tuesday	10 AM–4 PM
Wednesday	10 AM–4 PM
Thursday	10 AM–4 PM
Friday	10 AM–4 PM
Saturday	10 AM–4 PM
Sunday	10 AM–4 PM

⭐ Want to stand out? Get featured ⭐

About The Bakken Museum

Unique museum with an electricity focus. Museum & education center for all ages offering exhibits on electricity, Ben Franklin & magnets. The Bakken Museum was founded by Earl Bakken, the inventor of the pacemaker and co-founder of Medtronic, who purchased the historic West Winds mansion to house his collection of electrical artifacts and pacemaker technology. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 599 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Science Center
Best For: All ages
Location: Historic mansion setting on Bde Maka Ska, Southwest Minneapolis
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (extended Thursdays)
Highlights: Interactive STEM exhibits, Ben Franklin demonstrations, historic mansion grounds
Parking: Free and convenient

💡 Did You Know?

🏛️The Bakken Museum was founded by Earl Bakken, the inventor of the pacemaker and co-founder of Medtronic, who purchased the historic West Winds mansion to house his collection of electrical artifacts and pacemaker technology
⭐The museum features a collection of pacemakers spanning from the earliest designs to modern technology, documenting the medical innovation that has benefited millions of heart patients worldwide
⭐The Bakken Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025-2026 with a special exhibit featuring LEGO minifigures of local innovators
⭐The museum is housed in the historic West Winds Mansion with Gothic architecture and slate roof, located on the west shore of Bde Maka Ska with scenic lakeside views and includes a rooftop garden with medicinal plants
⭐The Bakken Museum operates extended hours every second Thursday of the month (10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.) and functions as a multi-purpose venue for weddings, events, and educational programming for grades 3-12

💬 What Visitors Say

💬Plan for at least 2-3 hours to fully experience the museum, gardens, and mansion. Visitors especially recommend exploring the rooftop garden and medicinal plants collection, which are frequently mentioned as highlights that shouldn't be missed.
🕐Visit during the extended hours on the second Thursday of each month (10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.) to maximize your time exploring the interactive exhibits, gardens, and scenic lakeside views without feeling rushed.
💡Don't skip the Frankenstein Room and electricity demonstrations—these are consistently the most engaging interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages, from young children building with wooden blocks to adults learning about electrical history and the museum's founder Earl Bakken's invention of the pacemaker.
💡The museum sits on a picturesque hill overlooking Bde Maka Ska with beautiful gardens, koi pond, and scenic terrace views. Visit during warmer months to fully enjoy the outdoor spaces, which reviewers highlight as integral to the complete experience.
💡Engage with the knowledgeable staff and volunteers on-site—multiple reviews highlight that docents like Denny Martin and Mr. Awesome provide excellent educational context about the exhibits and can significantly enhance your learning experience, especially around the electricity demonstrations.