Extended Hours

The Bakken Museum is now open late every second Thursday of the month! Spend your evening exploring interactive exhibits, experimenting with hands-on activities, and discovering the fascinating connections between science and technology. Whether you're visiting with family, meeting friends or looking for a unique night out, there's always something new to explore. Come interact, learn and have fun — after hours at The Bakken.

Vault Tour

Join one of our curators on a tour of Earl Bakken's collection kept in our state-of-the-art vault!

Vault Tours are restricted to ages 18+. Each ticket includes admission to the vault tour as well as general admission to the museum for that date.

Get Ready for This Summer’s Bakkenalia!

Sponsored by Medtronic

It’s that time of year: Summer Bakkenalia! On July 30, get the rare chance to see what the museum becomes after hours. Doors open at 5:30, event runs from 6-9.

Start the evening in the rooftop garden with blooming greenery, free drink sampling, and live music. As the sun sets, the energy shifts as interactive science activities come alive under the stars.

Explore the exhibits without the kids, grab something from the food trucks or cash bar, and catch special vault artifact presentations led by our curators.

By day, it’s a museum.

By night, it’s Bakkenalia.

Event is 21+. Free drink tastings included with ticket.

Beverage Vendors

• New France

• Voliere Spirits

• La Doña Cervecería Brewery

• 45th Parallel Spirits

Food Vendors

• Pizza Karma Food Truck

• MN Dairy Lab Ice Cream

Community Partners

• Bell Museum

• Medtronic

• Perennial Cycle

This event is sold out.

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Bakken Museum now has extended hours every 2nd Thursday of the month! Come Interact, learn and have fun!

The Bakken Museum now has extended hours every 2nd Thursday of the month! Come Interact, learn and have fun!

Vault Tour

Join one of our curators on a tour of Earl Bakken's collection kept in our state-of-the-art vault!

Vault Tours are restricted to ages 18+. Each ticket includes admission to the vault tour as well as general admission to the museum for that date.

Vault Tour

Join one of our curators on a tour of Earl Bakken's collection kept in our state-of-the-art vault!

Vault Tours are restricted to ages 18+. Each ticket includes admission to the vault tour as well as general admission to the museum for that date.

Recently Announced!

Join us for a special screening of Sound & Color, followed by an exclusive conversation with featured artist Sarah Kraning. This intimate event offers a closer look at the creative process behind the work, with insights from the artist herself.

Sound & Color is an experimental documentary exploring synesthesia, creativity, and the fundamental urge to be understood. The film centers on a creative experiment with Kraning, a visual artist who experiences sound-to-color synesthesia.

Set in the Great Hall, the screening begins at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m), bringing the film’s visuals and themes to life in a space designed for shared experience. After the film, stay for a live discussion with Kraning, where she’ll reflect on the ideas, inspiration, and techniques that shaped Sound & Color.

Learn more about Sarah Kraning.

The Bakken Museum now has extended hours every 2nd Thursday of the month! Come Interact, learn and have fun!

The Bakken Museum is participating in Doors Open Minneapolis*! Come see The Bakken Museum, in West Winds Mansion on the shore of Bde Maka Ska, features interactive activities for all. Make movies in the Spark exhibit, meet the mother of sci-fi in Mary & Her Monster, and test Ben Franklin's experiments in the Electricity Party Room while you tour our historic mansion and expansive gardens.

*The Bakken Museum is only participating on Saturday, May 9th

Vault Tour

Join one of our curators on a tour of Earl Bakken's collection kept in our state-of-the-art vault!

Vault Tours are restricted to ages 18+. Each ticket includes admission to the vault tour as well as general admission to the museum for that date.

Join The Bakken Museum and The Thinking Spot for a guided conversation surrounding "The Long History of the Future" by Nicole Kobie!

Bakken Book Club + Book pricing ($48) includes a copy of The Long History of the Future, which can be picked up either at The Bakken Museum or The Thinking Spot bookstore. Please email Audra Johnson (johnson@thebakken.org) to confirm which location you'd like to pick up your copy from.

Bakken Book Club pricing ($20) does not include a copy of the book.

The Bakken Museum now has extended hours every 2nd Thursday of the month! Come Interact, learn and have fun!

Vault Tour

Join one of our curators on a tour of Earl Bakken's collection kept in our state-of-the-art vault!

Vault Tours are restricted to ages 18+. Each ticket includes admission to the vault tour as well as general admission to the museum for that date.

Member Mornings allow for early entrance to our museum to all of our current members! Enjoy early entrance as well as an extra 10% off at our gift shop! (This stacks on top of your 10% member discount) So consider joining us this fine morning!

Discovery Day: Women in Science is an in-depth exploration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math topics with hands-on activities and partner demonstrations.

Partners joining us:

• 3M

• Ann Bancroft Foundation

• Bell Museum

• Boston Scientific

• Bug in System FTC Robotics

• Cool Trash

• Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing

• Gillette Children's

• Institute of Child Development and Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery

• Isthmus Engineering

• Nibi-Clear

• Society of Women Engineers: MN Professional Section

Along with our Sponsor, Medtronic!

Some of our activities will include, but not limited to:

• Experiment with electricity and make things light up and move

• Make an amazing puzzle that shows hidden pictures and patterns

• Use your creativity to solve hands-on engineering challenges

Discovery Days activities are included with museum admission.

The Bakken Museum now has extended hours every 2nd Thursday of the month! Come Interact, learn and have fun!

Vault Tour

Join one of our curators on a tour of Earl Bakken's collection kept in our state-of-the-art vault!

Vault Tours are restricted to ages 18+. Each ticket includes admission to the vault tour as well as general admission to the museum for that date.

Member Mornings allow for early entrance to our museum to all of our current members! Enjoy early entrance as well as an extra 10% off at our gift shop! (This stacks on top of your 10% member discount) So consider joining us this fine morning!

Robot Date Night At The Museum!

Plan a unique date night at The Bakken Museum! Bring a partner (romantic or otherwise) and build and customize a robot pet in The Bakken Museum’s Makerspace. Step-by-step instructions will be provided along with expert advice from our educators. Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.

Each registration includes admission for one person and one kit. We suggest working on a kit together during the event and taking the second one home to work on later.

Washington’s Birthday Hours

The Bakken Museum will be open Presidents' Day! Come stop in any time between 10 am - 4 pm

Volunteer Kit Packing Event

Looking for ways to support students in our community during this challenging moment?
The Bakken Museum is packing STEM + Arts Experiment kits for delivery to students who are currently learning from home to give them an opportunity for engaging hands-on learning, even while attending school online. We could use some extra hands to get these kits packed!
Join us for a Kit Packing Event on Thursday, Feb 12th from 5-6 pm or 6-7 pm and help get learning opportunities into the hands of the kids in our community!

Limited to 20 people per time slot.