Entry No. 8 — the Minneapolis file — filed under: history
The Bakken Museum
Located in a historic 1929 Tudor mansion, this quirky museum blends science and the humanities with interactive, sensory exhibits on electricity, electromagnetism, and a spooky, theatrical gallery dedicated to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
The story
In 1975, Earl Bakken—co-founder of medical device giant Medtronic—decided his personal stash of early electrical contraptions and medical history needed a permanent home. He bought a 1929 Tudor mansion sitting on the western shore of Bde Maka Ska and turned it into a sanctuary for electricity, bio-medicine, and gothic literature.
The museum sits right at the intersection of serious history and mad-scientist lair. Instead of sterile glass cases in a bland modern gallery, you walk through wood-paneled mansion rooms filled with early electromagnetic devices, medical curios, and hands-on exhibits that connect hard science to human stories.
The crown jewel of the display is Frankenstein’s Laboratory, a dark, theatrical gallery complete with lighting effects, artificial lightning, and animatronics that break down how early 19th-century bioelectricity experiments inspired Mary Shelley’s classic horror story. Outside, medicinal herb gardens stretch toward the lake, grounding the mansion's electric interior back in nature.
What it's like
Pulling up to 3537 Zenith Avenue South feels more like arriving at a private lakefront estate than a public museum. Inside, the vibe is low-key and hands-on; you can test out static electricity in the Electricity Party Room before ducking into the dark for the Frankenstein show. It rarely suffers from massive crowds, making it easy to linger over odd medical gadgets or step outside to walk through the medicinal gardens along Bde Maka Ska.
The move: Test out static electricity experiments in the Electricity Party Room, wander through the medicinal gardens, and get spooked by the immersive, lightning-filled Frankenstein's Laboratory show.
- 📍 West Calhoun / Bde Maka Ska
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Pavek Museum — Pair Bakken's bio-electrical focus with a short drive west to explore thousands of square feet of vintage radios and broadcast tech.
- Isles Studio — Keep the cabinet-of-curiosities aesthetic going by visiting this nearby boutique stocked with taxidermy and natural history items.
- Hennepin Healthcare History Center — Continue the medical history theme by heading downtown to see the historical medical tools tucked away in a working hospital basement.
Good to know
Who founded The Bakken Museum?
It was established in 1975 by Earl Bakken, co-founder of Medtronic, to hold his private collection of historical electrical and medical devices.
What is the Frankenstein exhibit?
It is an immersive, light-and-sound gallery show that demonstrates how 18th- and 19th-century electrical experiments influenced Mary Shelley when she wrote her gothic novel.
Where is the museum located?
It is housed in a historic 1929 Tudor manor on the west side of Bde Maka Ska at 3537 Zenith Ave S in Minneapolis.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · minnesotamonthly.com · Atlas Obscura · Wikipedia · exploreminnesota.com
last checked: 2026-07-21