Venue rentals
LOCATION
3537 Zenith Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55416
museum hours
Open: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed: Monday
ABOUT THE BAKKEN MUSEUM
The museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit institution serving 45,000 individuals annually through exhibits and STEM-focused events, camps, and outreach programs. All revenue earned through our rental program supports our mission to inspire a passion for innovation by exploring the potential for science, technology, and the humanities to make the world a better place.
ABOUT our venue
Located on the shore of Bde Maka Ska, The Bakken Museum campus includes the West Winds Mansion, exhibit spaces and classrooms, meticulously kept gardens, and a rooftop patio and lawn. Our distinct venue provides the ideal backdrop for a variety of events. From intimate, garden-side weddings to full museum fetes, The Bakken Museum stands uniquely poised to make your event a truly outstanding occasion. Our venue rental team has over 30 years of experience and will coordinate with you to ensure your event is exceptional.
View a 360 tour of our spaces on WeddingWire.
Photo: Katie Thering Photography & Design
The Bakken Museum recently renovated our first floor. Renovations include:
A stunning new entrance facing Bde Maka Ska.
An expansive courtyard and walkway overlooking restored wetlands.
A refurbished green roof.
Flexible-use classrooms and rental spaces.
Updated amenities, including lockers, all gender-accessible bathrooms.
A 3,000-square-foot gallery space featuring Spark, a new and engaging exhibit.
Photo: Gaffer Photography
Photo: Becky Min & Kevin Gam
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Bakken Museum is a popular location for senior and engagement photoshoots. Our exhibits, West Winds mansion, gardens, and green roof are all available for photography sessions. We require any professional photography to be coordinated in advance with our venue rentals team. Please email events@thebakken.org to request an appointment and pricing.
CHECK OUT OUR SPACES
CLASSROOMS
Our Classroom spaces are a great setting for corporate functions, such as meetings and workshops, as well as larger functions, such as plated dinners or cocktail receptions. Classrooms can be utilized individually or joined together to create one large unified space.
Classrooms are outfitted with audio and video technology including projectors, retractable screens, microphones and speakers.
Please note, availability during business hours is limited due to field trip and camps during the week.
Capacity
Social: 120
Presentation: 120
Seated Meal: 120
WEST WINDS
Historical ambiance reigns supreme in the beautiful West Winds mansion. Built in 1929 by William Goodfellow, West Winds combines English Tudor, European Gothic Revival, and other architectural styles.
A full West Winds mansion rental includes exclusive access to the gardens and rooftop terrace overlooking Bde Maka Ska and is open for activity and exploration in all rooms adjacent to the Great Hall.
Capacity
Social: 100
Presentation: 80
Seated Meal: 42
GREAT HALL & SUNROOM
With high ceilings, ornately carved walnut paneling, and large windows overlooking the green roof, the Great Hall is perfect for meetings, receptions, and meals. The attached Sunroom is bathed in light and offers event attendees the opportunity to access our beautiful courtyard gardens.
The Great Hall is outfitted with audio and video technology including projectors, retractable screens, microphones and speakers.
Museum visitors can access adjacent rooms during Great Hall rentals. For more privacy, please consider a full West Winds rental.
Capacity
Social: 100
Presentation: 80
Seated Meal: 42
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“The Bakken was the ideal place to have our wedding. Maggie & Chris are incredibly responsive, flexible, and helpful. We felt so taken care of throughout the entire process and especially on the day of the wedding itself. The venue itself is beautiful, welcoming, and flexible for both indoor and outdoor events.”
– Melanie
“With its unique majestic gardens, gorgeous architecture and estate-like feel, and hands-on scientific experiments and displays, The Bakken Museum is a wedding venue that is so unique that after a few months our guests are still talking about how amazing our wedding was. We wanted to create an experience for our guests that would make a lasting impression, and The Bakken Museum was that perfect place.”
– Mark
“My wife and I hosted a private event at the Bakken last week and the entire experience (from initial conversations back in March to the execution) was top-notch. The team is incredibly easy to work with and provides the right amount of direction and creative autonomy that is required to make an event seamless yet personalized. More than anything, we really appreciated their "can-do" approach and going the extra mile when it mattered most to make the event special for us and our guests.”
— Online Review
Find More Venue Rental Information in our PacketS
Webpage Header Photo: Ryan A Stadler Photography