Legacy Projects

Legacy Funded Projects

The Legacy Amendment, adopted by Minnesota voters in November 2008 as a constitutional amendment, increased the state sales tax by 3/8 of 1% for 25 years. The revenue generated was specifically allocated to support initiatives related to clean water, parks, outdoor habitat preservation, as well as arts and cultural heritage. The Minnesota Legislature established a website to enable citizens to track the utilization of funds from the Legacy Amendment. Through the following link, individuals can observe how these funds are allocated across the state: legacy.mn.gov

As a beneficiary of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund under the Legacy initiative, The Bakken Museum has significantly enhanced our museum spaces and education programs to represent the deep cultural heritage of Minnesota. The Bakken inspires a passion for innovation to transform curiosity into possibility.  The Bakken Museum has a unique opportunity to leverage the past to inspire the next generation of innovators to transform the future.   

 

Museum Collections 

The Bakken's Collections serve as a valuable resource for delving into the exploration of efforts to understand the human body, health, and wellness throughout history. Housing 11,000 books, 2,500 artifacts, and 1,000 pieces of art and ephemera, there is something to spark anyone's curiosity, spanning topics from electricity in literature to intriguing fringe science. Legacy funds have been utilized to process new pieces into the Bakken Museum’s collections, delve deeper into their history, impact, and significance, and ensure accessibility for the public. Legacy funds have also been utilized to expand and diversify our collection of oral histories. 

Related recent Legacy Grants:

  • Cross-Sectional Medical Alley Oral Histories Project - 2023  

  • Processing the Earl Bakken Legacy Collection - 2022 

Project Manager: Adrian Fischer, fischer@thebakken.org

 

Museum Exhibitions and Experience

The Bakken Museum's building features several permanent exhibits spanning the historic West Winds Mansion and additional built-out exhibit spaces. Legacy funds have been employed for planning new exhibitions, updating exhibit components, and enhancing the overall visitor experience. Additionally, these funds have played a crucial role in identifying accessibility priorities within the historic West Winds Mansion, ensuring enhanced access in the years to come. 

Related recent Legacy Grants:

  • Improving Wayfinding and Foster Visitor Reflection in Transition Spaces – 2027 

    Dakota Native Plants Garden Exhibition Renewal (Phase II) - 2025 

    Dakota Native Plants Garden Exhibition Renewal (Phase I) - 2023  

  • Dakota Native Plants Garden Exhibition Renewal and Translation - 2023 

  • Improving Demographic Data Collection at The Bakken Museum - 2023 

  • Education Residency Program and Exhibition Experiential Plan - 2023  

  • West Winds Mansion Audio Tour Script Writing - 2022 

  • Evaluation of Building Compliance with ADA for The Bakken Museum’s West Winds Mansion - 2022 

  • The Earl Bakken Exhibition Treatment – 2022 

Project Manager: Adrian Fischer, fischer@thebakken.org

 

Offsite Education 

The Bakken Museum’s STEM outreach programs strive to advance equity for all students by making high quality STEM enrichment available to students across Minnesota. The outreach team travels across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest to provide engaging STEM programs to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Legacy funds have supported expanding the reach and content of these programs with a particular emphasis on cultural responsiveness, building core competencies, and aligning with state and local education standards. 

Related recent Legacy Grants:

  • Statewide STEM Arts Programming - 2026 

  • Week of Wonder Residency Program - 2023 

Project Manager: Anika Taylor, taylor@thebakken.org

Organizational Leadership: Jenn Hensley, President & CEO, hensley@thebakken.org