Learning about electricity at Bakken Museum

The kiddos were introduced to electricity at the Bakken Museum. While most of the stuff there was a bit too old for our preschoolers and kindergarteners, there were still some great hands-on activities they could do. I chatted with an employee while we were there and she noted that most of their visitors are between 3rd and 5th grade because that's when Minnesota schools typically cover electricity. I plan to take the kids back then they're older.

Generate electricity! This hands-on activity is right near the entrance and was a big hit with our kids. The other highlight for the 2 year olds was the instrument that makes music when your hands wave near the metal!

This was a great interactive game. The ball moves if you have brain activity. If you can slow your brain you'll win!

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for kids and those under four are free. They set up classes for folks but they need a minimum of 20 students.

A few groups of school children arrived when we were there, but the staff and volunteers helped situate us to that we went through easily without bumping into them.

As always, the kiddos loved the outside of the building the best, running wild through the herb gardens.

HISTORY OF BUILDING
I was fascinated by the building that houses the Bakken Museum. Its simply gorgeous. The Bakken Museum was named after Earl Bakken. Bakken was born in 1924 and grew up in Minneapolis. In 1949 he co-founded Medtronic, helping develop the first wearable, external, battery-powered, transistorized pacemaker. Once his business was established, Bakken pursued his interest in the historical antecedents of using electricity for therapeutic purposes. In 1976, the museum collections were moved into a mansion located on the west shore of Lake Calhoun in southwest Minneapolis.

The house, called West Winds, was designed by Carl Gage for William Goodfellow and combines English Tudor, European Gothic Revival, and other architectural styles. It was built in 1928–30 and had been a private residence until it was acquired by Bakken.