The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis: Location and Legacy

Correcting the Name, Finding the Place

There is no "Bakken Library and Museum." The correct institution is The Bakken Museum, located at:

What Is The Bakken Museum?

Founded in 1975 by Earl Bakken (co-inventor of the first wearable, battery-powered cardiac pacemaker and Medtronic co-founder), this unique museum explores the history and nature of electricity and magnetism in life sciences and medicine.

Highlights

• Historic instruments: Early electrostatic generators, medical devices, pacemakers
• Interactive exhibits: Hands-on electricity, magnetism, and bioelectricity demos
• Florence Bakken Medicinal Garden: Outdoor garden with plants used in traditional and modern medicine
• West Winds Mansion: Housed in a historic 1920s Tudor mansion on Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska)
• Education programs: Camps, workshops, and STEM outreach for all ages

Visit Information

Check thebakken.org for current hours, admission, and special events. The museum is near the Chain of Lakes, accessible by car, bike, or Metro Transit.