Come for the architecture, stay for the electric shocks! No wait, maybe it’s the other way around?

The Bakken Museum’s focus is on electricity, its history and properties. Founded by Earl Bakken, inventor of the first battery operated pace-maker, the museum has something for everyone. There’s plenty of hands-on demos for kids and adults to play with. While their aim is educational, they also offer weird tingles, raised hair and even a few sharp shocks. The antiques collection houses numerous quack devices along with plenty of early scientific instruments and books.

The museum is housed in the gorgeous West Winds mansion. The woodwork, tiles and ornate windows are alone worth the visit.  Once you’ve finished with the museum, take a moment to wander in the gorgeous formal gardens. Pretend, just for a moment, that you live here. “I say Jeeves, can you bring up my Mathison Electropsychometer?  I wish to test for ghosts.” “Very good, madam.”

The Bakken
3537 Zenith Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55416