Bakken Museum of Electricity and Life

susanf
susanf
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4 out of 5
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2
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Bakken Museum of Electricity and Life

  • November 24, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by ontheroad97 from Alameda, California
Bakken Museum of Electricity and Life

In the mood to experience some of the quirkier attractions in the city, we took public transportation from downtown and ended up at Lake Calhoun. A short walk brought us to the Bakken, where we were like kids in a candy store. Contained in a beautifully historic setting is a unique museum documenting the history of electricity. Exhibits incorporate everything from electric eels to defibrillators to Frankenstein and much in between.

One of the highlights was the exploration room, where there were tables of wires, batteries, lights, horns, and other miscellaneous fun stuff to get your hands on. It's also well worth the trip for the experience of playing a theramin, an inventive musical instrument (think of The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" or numerous B-movie sci-fi soundtracks) played by moving your hands between two antennae.

Definitely worth an hour or two and one of the more interesting sights in Minneapolis.

From journal Summer in Minneapolis

The Bakken Museum of Electricity and Life

  • November 10, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by susanf from Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Bakken Museum of Electricity and Life

This charming museum explores the relationship between electricity and life. Exhibits include antique quack medical devices designed to "shock" sick people back to health, the earliest electrocardigram machines, and a Theramin, which is an electronic musical instrument played by moving your hands around in an electric field.

There is also a collection of electric fish and eels, and an exhibit devoted to the story of the Frankenstein monster. The multi-media portion of the Frankenstein exhibit may be too intense for small children, but my 10 year old found it delightfully spooky.

The Bakken is housed in a beautiful old mansion on Lake Calhoun.

From journal Minneapolis Parks and Lakes

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