Gardens at The Bakken
What You’ll Experience
Florence Bakken Medicinal Garden — inspired by medieval European physic gardens and explores past, present, and possible future uses for plants as medicine.
Green Roof Garden — filters rainwater, reducing harmful storm run-off while providing a place for celebrations.
Dakota Native Plants Garden — restored wetlands area, home to local flora and fauna.
Healthy Heart Organic Garden — summer vegetable garden and composting area which helps keep all of the museum’s gardens green and growing.
The Dakota Panels
Thanks to funding from Minnesota Historical & Cultural Grants, we started the process of updating the Dakota panels on our rooftop. They overlook Bde Maka Ska and highlight the importance of wetlands and water to the Dakota and their medicinal traditions.
The panels tell the story of Mahpiya Wicasta, who introduced agriculture to the Dakota, and his grandson Ohiyesa, who was an author, activist, lecturer, and first licensed Native American medical doctor. In the first phase of the replacement we revised, translated, and recorded the contents of each panel.
You can listen to an audio recording in Dakota of the panel “Protecting Sacred Waters” along with its English translation.
Protecting Sacred Waters
English Translation — “Wherever you live, you can have a positive impact on your watershed. The easiest ways include limiting or eliminating chemicals applied to your green spaces and choosing native plants. These choices help maintain healthy soil and provide food and forage for native insects, birds, and others.
Consider planting a rain garden in a spot likely to capture runoff from your roof, driveway or street. These bowl-shaped gardens allow runoff to slowly sink into the ground, filtering out contaminants before they reach the groundwater. If you choose perennial native plants, their deeper roots will stabilize soil and are more likely to tolerate periodic wetness and drought.
The Bdewakantunwan (Spirit Lake Dwellers) who originally lived here depended on the lakes and rivers of this area for survival, just as we do. Among their Dakota traditions is the close observation of natural systems and appreciation for how a balanced system maintains the health of people and all other life.
Today, the scientific community recognizes the value of this balance. As we understand the systems in which we live, we use that knowledge to restore our own physical, emotional, and spiritual health.”
Planning a Photoshoot?
Our gardens are a popular spot for senior and engagement photos. We love sharing these special moments with you and ask that any professional photography to be coordinated in advance with our venue rentals team. Please email events@thebakken.org to request an appointment and pricing.
Did You Know?
Bees use static electricity to attract pollen to their fuzzy bodies and they use the magnetic field around the earth to help them navigate.
The Bakken Museum is a The Beez Kneez, LLC urban apiary partner. You can buy honey extracted from our hives right here at the museum store!
